# 119-s-2097: COVID–19 Military Backpay Act of 2025

119-s-2097, COVID–19 Military Backpay Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2097
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2097
- Congress: 119
- Title: COVID–19 Military Backpay Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Restoring pay and service credit** to military members discharged over the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The bill would create a pathway to file a civil action in the Court of Federal Claims for monetary and non‑monetary relief if a discharge is found involuntary or unlawful. - Service members discharged under the August 24, 2021 DoD vaccine memorandum would be able to sue in the Court of Federal Claims to challenge their discharge and seek remedies. These remedies are available in addition to relief under Executive Order 14184. - Reserve components and National Guard members could receive compensation for missed inactive‑duty training, and those payments would not be reduced because of civilian earnings after discharge. - A successful claimant could get presumed service credit for the discharge period, potential retirement or separation benefits as if service had continued, recognition for 18‑ or 20‑year service where applicable, and up to a two‑year reenlistment or extension period. - The Court of Federal Claims would retain jurisdiction over these cases despite limits in 28 U.S.C. 1500 and the law would apply to covered claims already pending on enactment.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Relief for military vaccine discharges: benefit, high. If enacted, members subject to the August 24, 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate could sue in the Court of Federal Claims over vaccine-related discharges. The bill would create special evidentiary rules that block a "voluntary" defense when discharge was only for not getting the vaccine and treat some d…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025
- 119-s-306: Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2097 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2097)

## Related
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1462)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2142)
- [119-s-306: Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-306)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2097 (as of 2026-04-21).