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HR 6288 117th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Cardiovascular and respiratory health Emergency medical services and trauma care Immunology and vaccination Infectious and parasitic diseases Military medicine Military personnel and dependents Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation Veterans' pensions and compensation Wages and earnings

To establish certain protections for members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive vaccinations against COVID-19.

Introduced: January 10, 2022 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 14, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Dec 14, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill requires that a discharge or dismissal of a member of the Armed Forces must be characterized as honorable in situations where the individual was discharged or dismissed solely for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Such individuals may not be denied retired or retainer pay or any benefits through the Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs solely on the basis that they refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

What's happening now December 14, 2021

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 7570 Related bill To establish certain protections for individuals involuntarily separated from the Armed Forces solely on the basis of r…
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Republican 7
R
Van Drew, Jefferson
New Jersey · Feb 28, 2022
Bucshon, Larry
· Jan 25, 2022
Hartzler, Vicky
· Jan 25, 2022
 R
Cammack, Kat
Florida · Jan 19, 2022
 R
Johnson, Mike
Louisiana · Jan 19, 2022
 R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Jan 19, 2022
 R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Jan 13, 2022
Davis, Rodney
· Jan 10, 2022
 R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · Dec 23, 2021
 R
Cloud, Michael
Texas · Dec 20, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6288: To establish certain protections for members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive vaccinations against COVID-19.. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-6288/
MLA
"H.R. 6288: To establish certain protections for members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive vaccinations against COVID-19.." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-6288/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6288, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-6288/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6288: To establish certain protections for members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive vaccinations against COVID-19.](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-6288/)
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