United States HR 828: TROOP Act

Bill Text

I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 828
To direct the reinstatement of an individual involuntarily separated from
an Armed Force solely on the basis of refusing to receive a vaccination
against COVID–19.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 6, 2023
Mr. DUNN of Florida (for himself, Mr. JACKSON of Texas, Mr. MILLS, Mr.
EZELL, Mr. POSEY, Mr. CLOUD, Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida,
Mrs. HARSHBARGER, Mr. GIMENEZ, and Mr. BUCHANAN) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To direct the reinstatement of an individual involuntarily
separated from an Armed Force solely on the basis of
refusing to receive a vaccination against COVID–19.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Troop Return Of Over-4
due Payment Act’’ or the ‘‘TROOP Act’’. 5
VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:23 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H828.IH H828pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

2
•HR 828 IH
SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT AND BACK PAY FOR AN INDI-1
VIDUAL INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED FROM 2
AN ARMED FORCE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF 3
REFUSING TO RECEIVE A VACCINATION 4
AGAINST COVID–19. 5
(a) REINSTATEMENT.—At the request of a covered 6
individual, the Secretary concerned shall— 7
(1) reinstate the covered individual as a mem-8
ber of the Armed Force concerned, in the same rank 9
and grade the covered individual held at the time of 10
separation from the Armed Force concerned; and 11
(2) include, in the computation of the retired or 12
retainer pay of such covered individual, the period 13
between the involuntary separation and the rein-14
statement of the covered individual. 15
(b) BACK PAY.—A covered individual who was invol-16
untarily discharged from an Armed Force and who makes 17
a request under subsection (a) shall be entitled to back 18
pay for the period between such separation and reinstate-19
ment of the covered individual. 20
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 21
(1) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an in-22
dividual who was involuntarily separated from an 23
Armed Force solely on the basis of the refusal of 24
such individual to receive a vaccination against 25
COVID–19. 26
VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:23 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H828.IH H828pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

3
•HR 828 IH
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the 1
meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, 2
United States Code. 3
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:23 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H828.IH H828pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB