Commission on Equity and Reconciliation in the Uniformed Services Act
Sponsored By: Representative Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
Introduced
Summary
Would create a Commission on Equity and Reconciliation in the Uniformed Services to investigate how U.S. military policies have policed sexual orientation and gender identity and to recommend remedies, records fixes, and policy reforms. It would collect testimony, hold public hearings, and compile documentation on harms to LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans dating back to World War II.
Show full summary
- Veterans and current servicemembers: Would document physical, mental, financial, and professional harms from discriminatory discharges and denied care, including effects on suicidality and homelessness, and solicit both anonymous and named testimony.
- Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs operations: Would analyze nonconsensual changes to demographic records (including DEERS), discharge and reentry codes, and how those practices blocked access to VA benefits, employment, and gender-affirming care.
- Remedies and public accountability: Would recommend apologies, compensation options like back pay and reinstatement, restoration of benefits and gender-affirming services, streamlined discharge upgrades, updated diversity training, greater VA and DoD visibility for LGBTQ+ service, and study of denied burial rights.
- Commission design and timeline: Would be a 15-member body with authority to hold hearings and contract services and must deliver a written report to Congress within 1 year of its first meeting.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Commission to Study Military LGBTQ+ Discrimination
If enacted, this bill would create a temporary 15-member Commission to study how sexual orientation and gender identity were policed in the uniformed services since World War II. Appointments would be made by specified congressional leaders and executive officials and must be completed within 30 days after enactment. The President would call the Commission's first meeting within 30 days after enactment or after Congress funds the Commission. The Commission must send a written report to Congress within one year after its first meeting. The Commission would end 90 days after sending its final report.
Hearings and remedies for LGBTQ+ veterans
If enacted, the Commission would collect records, hold public hearings in U.S. cities, and gather written and oral testimony from LGBTQ+ service members and veterans, including anonymous statements. It would study health, mental health, homelessness, suicidality, financial and professional harms, and disparate impacts on racial minorities and women. The Commission would collect data on military and VA systems (including DEERS), on discharge codes, and on changes to gender markers made without consent. The Commission would have subpoena and document-collection powers and would recommend remedies such as an apology, back pay, reinstatement, benefits restoration, and restoring gender-affirming care.
Commission funding, pay, and contracts
If enacted, the bill would authorize "such sums as necessary" to run the Commission and allow funds to remain available until the Commission ends. The Commission could hire staff and set pay without some competitive service rules, but staff pay would be capped at the Executive Schedule level V rate. The Commission could hire outside experts at similar daily rates, get reimbursable support from GSA, and enter contracts to the extent Congress provides funding.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov