S.1641 - Reaffirming Every Servicemembers' Trust Of Religious Exemptions Act; RESTORE Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1641, the RESTORE Act, aims to address potential unfairness experienced by service members who requested religious accommodations, specifically regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. It mandates the Secretary of Defense to convene a special review board to audit religious accommodation requests and review the personnel records of affected service members. The bill also requires reports to Congress on the board's findings and corrective actions taken.
Expected Effects
The bill seeks to restore career progression, promotions, assignments, retention, or professional development opportunities that were negatively affected by religious accommodation requests or COVID-19 vaccine refusal. It will also lead to the expungement of adverse actions related to the refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine from service member records.
Potential Benefits
- Ensures fair treatment of service members who sought religious accommodations.
- Provides a mechanism for correcting past injustices related to career progression and benefits.
- Mandates transparency through reporting to Congress.
- Reinforces the importance of religious freedom within the military.
- Could improve morale and trust within the armed forces.
Potential Disadvantages
- Creates a new administrative burden and associated costs for the Department of Defense.
- May lead to legal challenges from service members who believe they were unfairly treated, even after the review process.
- Could be perceived as preferential treatment for a specific group of service members.
- The review process could be lengthy and complex, potentially delaying resolution for affected individuals.
- Potential for disagreement on what constitutes appropriate corrective action.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom, as it seeks to ensure that service members' religious beliefs are respected and accommodated. The bill also aims to ensure that the application of military policies does not infringe upon the free exercise of religion, as protected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).