S 29 United States Senate · 118th Congress

AMERICANS Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Defense from imposing new COVID-19 vaccine mandates without explicit congressional approval. It directly affects military members discharged or facing adverse actions (like separation or rank reduction) solely due to refusing the vaccine. Key provisions require the DoD to adjust discharges to "honorable," reinstate members to their prior rank, expunge adverse records related to vaccination status, and provide back pay for lost benefits. The bill also mandates equal retention and promotion opportunities for unvaccinated service members and creates exemption processes for specific cases like natural immunity or religious objections. These changes apply regardless of whether members previously sought vaccine accommodations.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jan 24, 2023 Last action Jan 24, 2023