A new legislative effort is emerging from a group of Republican senators aiming to address grievances faced by U.S. servicemembers during the COVID-19 vaccine mandate era. The Reaffirming Every Servicemember’s Trust Over Religious Exemptions (RESTORE) Act, championed by Senators Ted Cruz, Rick Scott, Katie Britt, and Mike Lee, seeks to establish a Special Review Board within the Department of Defense (DOD). This board will audit the handling of religious accommodation requests (RARs) related to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, ensuring that those who faced unjust penalties are recognized and their records corrected.
The RESTORE Act comes nearly four years after the DOD instituted the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all service members amid the pandemic. While exemptions were allowed for medical, administrative, or religious reasons, the process for religious accommodations was reportedly inconsistent, with a staggering rejection rate. Out of approximately 28,000 RARs submitted across all military branches, fewer than 400 were approved, a mere 2% of the total requests. This left an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 service members facing negative consequences, including denied promotions and adverse performance evaluations, for their refusal to comply with the mandate based on their religious beliefs.
The proposed legislation outlines several corrective measures, including backdated promotions, restoration of Date of Rank (DOR), lost pay, retirement contributions, and the expungement of adverse actions from personnel records. If passed, the bill mandates that compensation and other remedies be provided within 60 days of case resolution. Senator Cruz emphasized the importance of this act, stating, "American servicemembers are still facing unjust consequences for personal religious decisions that led them to reject the Biden administration’s coercive COVID-19 vaccine mandates."
Senator Mike Lee added, "Thousands of military service members were punished for declining the COVID-19 vaccine, some for religious reasons that are protected by the Constitution. The RESTORE Act corrects these injustices by awarding the promotions and pay stolen from our courageous men and women in uniform by the Biden administration."
While the majority of armed forces personnel complied with the vaccine mandate, a significant number objected on religious grounds, citing concerns over the vaccine’s development involving aborted fetal cells. This has led to numerous lawsuits challenging the mandate, with many arguing that the military failed to provide an adequate exemption process for those opposed to the vaccine on religious grounds.
In January 2023, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the rescission of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, reporting that around 96% of military personnel were fully vaccinated. Later, in October 2023, the DOD agreed to pay $1.8 million in fees and litigation costs to settle a lawsuit related to the mandate.
As the RESTORE Act moves forward, it symbolizes a significant step toward addressing the concerns of servicemembers whose religious beliefs were not adequately accommodated during a challenging time. The outcome of this legislation could restore honor and opportunities to those who felt sidelined in their service to the nation. For more detailed information on the RESTORE Act and its implications, you can visit the official Senate website.