A United States Marine receives the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at Camp Foster on April 28, 2021 in Ginowan, Japan. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:37 PM PT – Thursday, December 15, 2022

The Senate has voted to pass sweeping legislations that would grant $858 Billion in national defense funding on Thursday. Part of these legislations is rescinding the U.S. military’s COVID vaccine mandate.

The measure is a final negotiated version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023. After passing the Senate and being approved by the House, it is now cleared for President Joe Biden’s signature.  

$817 Billion of the $858 billion in the bill are specifically for the Department of Defense. This includes a 4.6% pay raise for military service members, a provision to strengthen air power and lad warfare defense capabilities, as well as cybersecurity. It also aims to raise U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO.

After congressional Republicans pushed for its repeal, the provision to rescind the military’s COVID vaccine mandate was added.

“The end of President Biden’s military COVID vaccine mandate is a victory for our military and for common sense.” House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in praise of the provision.

The White House declined to clarify last week if Biden would sign the must-pass defense bill if it includes this provision. Instead, they reiterated that the president continues to support a mandate but also is leaving the door open to a repeal.

White House officials has deferred to and sided with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s opposition to rescinding the COVID vaccine mandate. This provision, being included in the final compromise agreement, underscores a reality that played out behind closed doors.

Democrats came to the conclusion that the GOP priority was a necessity for the bill to pass.

The Act does not actually appropriate the funds, rather it sets forth the Department of Defense’s and the U.S. military’s policy priorities and authorizes spending in accordance with those priorities.

The post COVID vaccine mandate rescinded first appeared on One America News Network.

Damage is seen along Schoolhouse Road after a tornado moved through area in Killona, La., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (Brett Duke/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 5:56 PM PT – Thursday, December 15, 2022

Tornados in Louisiana have wreaked havoc and killed three in the Pelican State.

On Tuesday night, a string of catastrophic storms accompanied by thunderclaps, bright lightning and heavy downpours tore across the northwest part of Louisiana leaving many residents shattered. The area is still recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.

On Wednesday, following the devastating storms, Governor John Bel Edwards (D-La.) proclaimed a State of Emergency.

After meeting with local authorities and touring the affected areas, Edwards arranged a press conference. During it, he stressed that it is estimated that the slow-moving storms could dump 3-5 inches in upcoming hours, which would result in the poor drainage or creek flooding.

“The most severe threat to Louisiana is in the Southwest portion of the state, where recovery from Hurricane Laura and the May flooding is ongoing,” the governor said. “In this area heavy rain and flash flooding are possible.”

Additionally, the governor’s office is advising those who have suffered storm damage to report their damages and any pertinent details at a particular portal. He also insisted that Louisiana residents should stay alert and find a way to receive weather alerts.

As of Thursday, the tornado has taken the life of three people. The first reported victims were 30-year-old Yoshika A. Smith and her 8-year-old son Nikolus. They resided in Caddo Parish. Another woman was found deceased in Killona, a small neighborhood in St. Charles Parish. According to a report from the Union Parish Sheriff’s office, around 20 people are currently hospitalized. Some are critically injured.

The post Deadly tornados ravage Louisiana first appeared on One America News Network.