H.R. 3240: Reaffirming Every Servicemembers' Trust Of Religious Exemptions Act

The Reaffirming Every Servicemembers' Trust Of Religious Exemptions Act or RESTORE Act aims to address the treatment of military personnel who have submitted requests for religious exemptions, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The bill outlines several key components:

Establishment of the Special Review Board

The Secretary of Defense is required to create a special review board tasked with auditing religious accommodation requests related to the COVID-19 vaccine. This board will:

• Audit the number of accommodation requests and decisions made since 2020, ensuring compliance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.
• Evaluate if a service member's career was negatively impacted due to their request or refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Implement corrective actions for eligible service members, such as:
• Backdated promotions to their rightful rank.
• Adjustments to their date of rank to match their peers.
• Restoration of any lost pay and benefits including back pay and retirement contributions.
• Reinstatement of service for those who left due to denial of their accommodation requests.
• Ensure that all negative administrative actions linked to vaccine refusal are removed from the service member’s record.
• Provide a process for service members to request a review of past accommodation decisions and their effects on career progression.

Timeline for Review and Reporting

The review board must complete its assessments within one year of the bill's enactment. Following this review, a report summarizing the findings and corrective actions taken must be submitted to the respective Congressional committees within 60 days.

Accountability Measures

The bill mandates several reporting requirements for the Secretary of Defense, including:

• A report of initial findings within 90 days of enactment, detailing the audit results and compliance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
• Quarterly reports outlining the number of cases reviewed, service members granted benefits, and any actions taken to expunge adverse records.
• An independent audit by the Department of Defense Inspector General after 18 months to assess the implementation of the Act.

Definitions and Terms

This Act defines various terms such as:

• Adverse action: Actions taken against service members that can include reprimands, delays in promotions, negative evaluations, or forced separations.
• Religious accommodation: A formally submitted request for an exemption from military orders on religious grounds.
• Service member: A member of the Armed Forces, including those in active duty, reserve, or National Guard status.

Authorization of Appropriations

The bill authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to support the activities of the Special Review Board and ensure the objectives of the Act are met.

Relevant Companies

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