H.R. 5075: Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, titled the Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education Act (GRACE Act), aims to regulate the disbursement of federal education funds concerning vaccination requirements in educational institutions and agencies. The key points of the bill are as follows:

Prohibition on Federal Funding

No federal education funds can be awarded to any educational institution or agency that enforces a vaccination requirement unless the following conditions are met:

Individuals (or their parents or guardians, for minors) must be able to claim an exemption from the vaccination requirement on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs.
No supporting documentation or evidence is necessary for individuals to assert their religious exemption.

Definitions

To clarify its provisions, the bill provides specific definitions:

Child: Refers to an individual who is under the age of 18.
Educational institution or agency: This includes elementary schools, secondary schools, local educational agencies, and state educational agencies as defined under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Vaccination requirement: Any stipulation by an educational institution or agency that mandates vaccinations for enrollment, attendance, participation in extracurricular activities, or employment.

By establishing these conditions, the bill seeks to ensure that federal funding is only allocated to those institutions that allow for religious exemptions related to vaccination mandates.