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119-s-1641119th Congress

RESTORE Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Would create a Department of Defense Special Review Board to find and fix career harms tied to servicemembers' religious accommodation requests, including COVID‑19 vaccine refusals. It would audit cases across the military and restore promotions, pay, records, and service when wrongdoing is found.

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  • Service members who filed religious accommodation requests could get backdated promotions, corrected dates of rank, restored pay and retirement contributions, reinstatement if separation was later found unlawful, and removal of related adverse actions. Compensation and restorations must be paid not later than 60 days after an individual case review.
  • Reserve and National Guard members could have Inactive Duty Training points and other participation records fixed so they receive a satisfactory year for reserve service and regain competitiveness for assignments.
  • The Department of Defense would conduct a DoD‑wide audit and assess compliance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, provide an initial findings report within 90 days, quarterly progress reports, and face an independent DoD Inspector General audit within 18 months.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Restore military careers after vaccine denials

If enacted, this bill would create a Special Review Board at the Department of Defense to audit COVID-19 vaccine religious accommodation requests. The Board would review personnel records and decide whether a service member's promotions, assignments, retention, or development were harmed. If eligible, members could get backdated promotions and corrected dates of rank. They could also receive back pay, restored retirement contributions, bonuses, reinstatement, and expunged adverse records. The Board must finish all reviews within one year after enactment. The Secretary would send an initial findings report to Congress within 90 days and then quarterly progress reports. The Deputy Under Secretary would report within 60 days after the review completes. An independent DoD Inspector General audit must finish within 18 months. The bill would authorize "such sums as may be necessary" and would require DoD to make payments to eligible members within 60 days after their case review is completed. DoD must also set up a way for members to request individual review, whether their original accommodation was approved or denied.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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