RESTORE Act

Summary

Creates a Department of Defense Special Review Board to audit religious accommodation requests for the COVID‑19 vaccine, review affected service members’ personnel records for compliance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and order corrective actions (such as back pay, reinstatement, promotions, and expungement). The Secretary of Defense must stand up the Board, complete reviews within one year, and ensure individual restorations are executed within 60 days of case resolution. The Act also requires reports to Congress, quarterly updates, and an independent Inspector General audit, and authorizes whatever funds are necessary to implement these requirements.

Key Points

• Establishes a DoD Special Review Board to audit COVID‑19 vaccine religious accommodation requests and related personnel actions.
• Board must check decisions for consistency with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
• Board can order corrective actions such as back pay, reinstatement, back promotions, and expungement of adverse records.
• Board must complete its overall review within one year and execute individual remedies within 60 days of case resolution.
• Secretary of Defense and DoD Inspector General must report implementation details to Congress, with an initial 90‑day report and quarterly updates.
• An independent DoD Inspector General audit must be completed within 18 months to assess RFRA compliance Department‑wide.
• Key terms (adverse action, religious accommodation, service member) are defined to set scope and procedures.
• Congress authorizes and the Secretary must provide the funds and resources needed to implement the Board and its directives.

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