Introduced in House — H.R. 9046

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9046

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 29, 2026

Mr. Barrett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on members of the Armed Forces who separated from the Armed Forces due to the mandate to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the transfer of education benefits by such members, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the COVID-19 Military Mandate Transparency Act.

Sec. 2. Study on separation of members of the Armed Forces due to the mandate to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the transfer of education benefits by such members

(a) Study

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study on covered individuals and the transfer of education benefits by covered individuals to covered dependents.

(b) Report

(1) Requirement

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the results of the study required by subsection (a). Such report shall include—

(A)

the number of covered individuals;

(B)

the number of covered individuals who initiated a transfer of education benefits to a dependent in accordance with section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, before separation;

(C)

the number of covered individuals who initiated such a transfer and did not complete the years of service in the Armed Forces necessary for such dependent to commence use of such education benefits in accordance with such section before separation;

(D)

the number of members of the Armed Forces who were denied a religious exemption from the mandate to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the period beginning on August 24, 2021, and ending on January 10, 2023;

(E)

the number of covered individuals who were denied such a religious exemption;

(F)

(G)

the number of covered individuals who returned to service in accordance with the terms of Executive Order 14184 (relating to reinstating service members discharged under the military's COVID-19 vaccination mandate) who initiated a transfer of education benefits to a dependent in accordance with section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, before separation and return to service;

(H)

(I)

the number of covered dependents;

(J)

an analysis of the budgetary impact of allowing each covered dependent to commence use of education benefits that were transferred to such covered dependent in accordance with section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, without regard to whether the covered individual who transferred such education benefits to such covered dependent completed the years of service in the Armed Forces necessary for such covered dependent to commence such use; and

(K)

any recommendations of the Secretary to address the separation of covered individuals and to ensure covered individuals receive appropriate benefits as veterans of the Armed Forces.

(2) Disaggregation

The Secretary of Defense shall disaggregate the elements of the report required by paragraph (1) that are described in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of such paragraph by—

(A)

Armed Force in which the covered individual served;

(B)

whether the covered individual served in an active component or a reserve component;

(C)

the grade of the covered individual;

(D)

the years of service in the Armed Forces of the covered individual at the time of separation; and

(E)

the characterization of the discharge of the covered individual.

(c) Public availability

Not later than 60 days after the Secretary of Defense submits the report required by subsection (b), the Secretary shall make such report publicly available on the internet website of the Department of Defense.

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Covered dependent

The term covered dependent means a dependent of an individual who—

(A)

is a covered individual;

(B)

initiated a transfer of education benefits to such dependent in accordance with section 3319 of title 38, United States Code; and

(C)

did not complete the years of service in the Armed Forces necessary for such dependent to commence use of such benefits in accordance with such section.

(2) Covered individual

The term covered individual means an individual who, during the period beginning on August 24, 2021, and ending on January 10, 2023, was involuntarily or voluntarily separated from an Armed Force solely on the basis of the refusal of such individual to receive a vaccination against COVID-19.