During a recent interview, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) revealed that he had confronted President Joe Biden about the military vaccine mandate, noting that Republicans will not allow the next National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to move forward unless it includes a provision to remove the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate for military personnel.
Appearing on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” McCarthy — who is expected to become the next Speaker of the House when Republicans regain control of the chamber in January — insisted that the NDAA would stall if the military vaccine mandate were not lifted.
“I had a meeting with the president and I laid out very clearly what will be the new Republican majority,” McCarthy explained. “And we’re working through what is the NDAA, the national defense bill. We will secure lifting that vaccine mandate on our military because what we’re finding is they’re kicking out men and women that have been serving. People are — they’re not meeting their recruitment.”
“That’s the first victory of having a Republican majority,” he added. “And we’d like to have more of those victories.”
“So, just to be clear, you’re saying, in the NDAA, which will drop next week, the vaccine mandate for the military will be lifted?” host Maria Bartiromo asked.
“Yes, it will,” McCarthy responded. “Otherwise, the bill will not move.”
The California Republican went on to note that he had “been very clear with the president” about lifting the vaccine requirement — which has been an important issue to conservative voters.
“The president, I want to — worked with me on this,” McCarthy said. “This is the first sign of having a divided government. You got some compromise here. And we have got something that the Republicans have been working very hard, and a number of Democrats too, trying to find success. But one-party rule would never allow that to go forward. And now we’re going to have success.”
“Our young men and women in the military deserve better,” Paul said.
ICYMI: Yesterday, I hosted a press conference with other Senators to call for an end to the Biden Administration's unscientific military vaccine mandate.
Our young men and women in the military deserve better. pic.twitter.com/g5yNHJRXXM
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 1, 2022
Twenty Republican governors, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), have also called for the Biden administration to rescind the mandate.
I joined 20 Republican governors demanding that the federal government end COVID vaccine mandates for the U.S. Military.
I expect legislation this session to ban ANY Covid vaccine mandate in Texas.https://t.co/89t2MiqPA7 via @https://twitter.com/Tylerpaper
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 4, 2022
