U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN), Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the Department of Defense's monitoring of COVID-19.
Rep. Banks' remarks as prepared for delivery: Today we convene to address a matter of paramount importance – how The Department of Defense's monitoring of COVID-19 has impacted our military ranks and the implications of the COVID-19 vaccine on the health and well-being of our servicemen and women.
Over the past four years, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to our nation and its armed forces.
As the virus has become just another part of the yearly flu season, we need to look with clear eyes and healthy skepticism at:
• How the Department handled the pandemic • The effects of the virus and vaccines on our service members' health • And if the Department's policies and practices actually mitigated any risk to service members and their families.
Many service members and their families are concerned with the safety and value of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, prompting questions about adverse reactions and unforeseen consequences, most concerningly related to heart conditions and hypertension in a young military population.
And the data is worrying: in 2022 we saw heart related conditions like hypertension and cardiomyopathy among servicemembers increase by 47 percent and 94 percent, respectively, over DoD averages.
In addressing this pandemic, there is no doubt that the Department has made mistakes… And that some decisions were made for political gain, rather than based on science and fact.
So today, we seek clarity for the service members who took the COVID-19 vaccine, for their families, and for everyone's future health and well-being. We seek to understand the extent to which the Department of Defense has monitored the impact of COVID-19 on our military personnel, including any potential correlation between the virus itself and the development of medical conditions. Moreover, we aim to examine the data surrounding the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine within our ranks, evaluating its safety profile and any observed trends in adverse reactions or health outcomes.
As stewards of our nation's defense, it is incumbent upon us to ensure the well-being of those who wear the uniform. We owe it to our service members to provide them with the best possible care and support, especially in times of crisis.
By convening this hearing, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency, accountability, and above all, the health and safety of our military community.
