Bill · S. 1641· Senate(119-S-1641)
RESTORE Act
- Introduced
- 5/7/2025
- Last activity
- 5/7/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Cruz
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The RESTORE Act creates a special review board to audit religious accommodation requests specifically for the COVID-19 vaccine. This board will review the personnel records of service members who filed these requests and remained in service. The goal is to determine if these individuals faced negative career impacts, such as missed promotions or lost pay. Eligible members may receive backdated promotions, restored benefits, or reinstatement to service. The act also requires the expungement of adverse administrative actions from their records. Finally, it mandates reporting and an Inspector General audit to ensure accountability and compliance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?+8
The bill ensures compliance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by auditing and correcting denials of religious accommodations.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+6
Provides a path for reinstatement and correction of records for those who left or were impacted by vaccine mandates.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+6
It provides a corrective mechanism to review and rectify administrative errors in personnel records.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
The bill authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds for back pay and benefits, which increases government spending.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill requires expenditures for back pay, retirement contributions, and the operation of a review board.
Does this reduce what is spent on the military?-2
The bill increases spending through the restoration of pay and benefits to service members.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Career Restoration: Service members could receive backdated promotions, corrected dates of rank, and reinstatement to service if their religious accommodation denial was found to be unlawful (Section 2(b)(3)).
-
Financial Recovery: Impacted individuals may be granted restoration of lost pay, back pay, retirement contributions, and applicable bonuses (Section 2(b)(3)).
-
Record Cleaning: The bill requires the expungement of administrative reprimands, negative evaluations, and promotion delays related to COVID-19 vaccine refusal or protected religious accommodations (Section 2(b)(4)).
-
Fairness for Reservists: Reserve component personnel may receive Inactive Duty Training points to ensure they have a satisfactory year for participation (Section 2(b)(4)).
-
Access to Review: A mechanism will be established for service members to request a review of their records and career progression regardless of the original outcome of their accommodation request (Section 2(b)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+6Good For Retirees+4Good For Middle Aged+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Seniors+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+6Improves Government Transparency+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Religious Freedom+8
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-2Improves Fiscal Responsibility-1
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Reduces Military Spending-2
- 5/7/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida