AMERICANS Act

Discharged Service Members: Members who were separated because they refused the vaccine can have their status adjusted to an "honorable discharge" if their status would have been honorable otherwise (Section 2(b)(c)(1)).

Reinstated Service Members: The bill allows for the reinstatement of members to the highest grade they held prior to their involuntary separation (Section 2(b)(c)(2)).

Impacted Service Members: Those subject to adverse actions other than separation can have their pay and benefits restored (Section 2(b)(c)(3)(B)).

Service Records: The bill allows for the expungement of adverse actions and any references to those actions from a member's service record (Section 2(b)(c)(4)).

Retired Pay: For reinstated members, the time they were separated is included in the computation of their retired or retainer pay (Section 2(b)(c)(5)).

Career Development: The Secretary of Defense is directed to make every effort to retain unvaccinated members and provide them with professional development, promotion, and leadership opportunities (Section 2(d)(1)).

Deployment Flexibility: The bill creates a process to provide exemptions for deployments and assignments for those with natural immunity, underlying health conditions, or sincerely held religious beliefs (Section 2(d)(3)).

Financial Relief: Former members who were separated for refusing the vaccine are released from obligations to repay bonuses, and those who already repaid them can be reimbursed (Section 2(e)).

Deployment and Assignments: The Secretary of Defense may still consider vaccination status when making deployment and operational decisions if a foreign country requires vaccination for entry and the member's presence is necessary (Section 2(d)(2)).

Rank Reductions: While reinstating members, the bill allows for any reduction in rank that was not related to the member's COVID-19 vaccination status (Section 2(b)(c)(2) and Section 2(b)(c)(3)(A)).