This bill prohibits DOD from issuing new COVID-19 vaccine mandates without congressional authorization and provides remedies for service members discharged under the rescinded 2021 mandate. All vaccine-related discharges must be categorized as honorable. DOD must retain unvaccinated members with equal opportunities and cannot consider vaccination status except for deployment to countries requiring it. Bonus repayments must be reimbursed.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill prohibits DOD from issuing new COVID-19 vaccine mandates without congressional authorization and provides remedies for service members discharged under the rescinded 2021 mandate. All vaccine-related discharges must be categorized as honorable. DOD must retain unvaccinated members with equal opportunities and cannot consider vaccination status except for deployment to countries requiring it. Bonus repayments must be reimbursed.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots Act of 2025 or the AMERICANS Act</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a replacement for the rescinded vaccine mandate of August 24, 2021, unless the mandate is expressly authorized by Congress. The bill also provides that DOD must establish an application process for remedies for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or subject to adverse action under the rescinded mandate.</p><p>Any administrative discharge of a member on the sole basis of a failure to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be categorized as an honorable discharge, and DOD is prohibited from taking any adverse action against such a member for that reason.</p><p>DOD must try to retain unvaccinated members and provide such members with professional development, promotion and leadership opportunities, and consideration equal to that of their peers.</p><p>Additionally, DOD may only consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of members in making certain decisions (e.g., deployments in countries where it is the law) and must establish a process to provide exemptions to certain members for such decisions.</p><p>Members who were separated from the Armed Forces for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are not required to repay any bonuses and must be reimbursed if they repaid any portion of a bonus prior to this bill's enactment.</p><p>This bill applies to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they sought an accommodation to any DOD COVID-19 vaccination policy.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Prohibits new DOD COVID-19 vaccine mandates without Congress
Requires honorable discharge for vaccine refusals
Mandates equal opportunities for unvaccinated members
Limits consideration of vaccination status
Requires reimbursement of repaid bonuses
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This legislation addresses grievances of service members who faced consequences for refusing COVID-19 vaccination. It provides comprehensive remedies including discharge upgrades and bonus reimbursement. The congressional authorization requirement for future mandates shifts vaccine policy decisions to the legislature. Critics argue it undermines military readiness and command authority over medical requirements.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Related Subjects
Administrative remedies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Military personnel and dependents
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
511, 119th Congress (2025). "AMERICANS Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-511
