Representative Jody Hice (R-GA-10) joined forces with Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-04) in a new effort to get Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis Richard McDonough to grant vaccination exemption requests to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees in a statement on Monday.
“VA employees are at risk of losing their livelihoods thanks to President Biden’s federal vaccine mandate. That’s why I’m leading an effort urging VA Secretary McDonough to immediately grant all religious and medical exemption requests,” Congresswoman Hartzler tweeted.Â
Congressman Hice publicly expressed his support for Hartzler’s effort on Monday.
“You should NEVER have to choose between a jab in the arm or your job. I’m proud to join Rep. Hartzler in this important effort,” Hice said.
“Can we finally dispense the notion that vaccines, masks, and fist bumps stop the spread?” Hice asked in a tweet. “OH. And while we’re at it… it’s time to address the servicemembers kicked out over the Administration’s vax mandate.”
The Tennessee Star previously reported on the COVID-19 vaccine mandate that National Guardsmen in Virginia and Tennessee have been faced with.
Virginia National Guardsman Fianna Litvok told The Star News Network’s national political editor Neil McCabe her thoughts on the matter.
“What is so upsetting about putting in this exemption is the fact that I even had to,” Litvok said. “The Constitution guarantees and codifies my right to live my life according to my faith and conscience.”
According to the VHA, some 33,000 employees have requested vaccine mandate exemptions, yet the agency states that not all will be accepted.
“This is troubling news for these Americans and runs contrary to previous statements that the VA ‘is not going to challenge the legitimacy of somebody’s claim to a religious exemption.’ We must stand up for religious freedom and accept [these] exemptions,” Hartzler said.Â
The congresswoman stated that the VA’s refusal to accept religious exemptions goes against the Constitution’s First Amendment right.
“The VA’s refusal to accept all religious exemptions is not only a violation of religious freedom, but could also cause severe staff shortages that directly affect patient care, particularly in rural areas,” Hartzler said.
Hartzler publicly thanked some of the other members of Congress who joined her and Hice, such as U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY-04), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA-14), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04).
“Veterans living in rural areas face unique challenges due to medical staff shortages and long distances to VA medical facilities, and the firing of thousands of VA medical staff will have catastrophic effects on their access to care,” Hartzler said.
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 Addison Basurto is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Follow Addy on Twitter and GETTR. Email tips to [email protected]
