GRACE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5075
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-29: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:10:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The GRACE Act aims to protect religious freedoms in educational settings by requiring that schools and educational agencies allow exemptions from vaccination mandates based on sincerely held religious beliefs, without needing proof, as a condition for receiving federal education funds. This ensures that federal money does not support institutions that impose strict vaccination rules without such accommodations.
Key Provisions
- Funding Prohibition: Federal education funds cannot be awarded to any elementary or secondary school, local educational agency, or state educational agency that enforces a vaccination requirement unless it provides a religious exemption policy.
- Exemption Details:
- Individuals (or parents/guardians for children under 18) can claim an exemption by simply asserting that the vaccination violates their sincerely held religious belief.
- No documentation, proof, or additional information is required to validate the claim.
- Scope of Vaccination Requirements: These include mandates for enrollment, attendance, participation in sports or other activities, or employment at the institution.
- Definitions:
- "Child" refers to anyone under 18 years old.
- "Educational institution or agency" covers public schools and related agencies as defined under federal education law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a new federal mandate tying education funding to religious accommodations for vaccinations, which was not previously required at the national level.
- It expands beyond current laws (like those under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) by prohibiting funding for non-compliant entities and eliminating the need for supporting evidence in religious exemption claims, potentially overriding state or local policies that require documentation.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State and local educational agencies may need to revise policies to maintain federal funding, increasing administrative burdens to track and honor exemptions without verification.
- On Citizens: Students, parents, and school employees with religious objections to vaccines gain easier access to exemptions, promoting personal and religious choice but possibly affecting herd immunity and public health in schools.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could influence U.S. educational aid or partnerships abroad if similar funding conditions apply to international programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Educational Institutions and Agencies: Public schools and state/local education offices that receive federal funds must comply or risk losing money for programs like student support or facilities.
- Students and Parents: Families seeking religious exemptions benefit from simplified processes, particularly in areas with strict vaccination rules.
- School Employees: Teachers and staff gain protection from vaccine mandates tied to their jobs.
- Federal Government: The Department of Education would enforce compliance, potentially reallocating funds from non-compliant entities.
- Religious and Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on religious liberty may support this, while public health advocates could oppose it.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment protections for free exercise of religion by prioritizing faith-based objections without scrutiny, but could face challenges if seen as conflicting with states' rights to regulate public health or compelling government funding of potentially unverified claims.
- Legal: May lead to lawsuits over enforcement, such as disputes on what constitutes a "sincerely held" belief or impacts on anti-discrimination laws. It does not override medical or other exemptions but adds a layer to federal funding conditions.
- Political: Highlights ongoing debates on balancing individual rights with public safety, especially post-pandemic, and could polarize views on government involvement in health and education policies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Cosponsors (26)
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-29: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-08-29: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education Act — issued 2025-08-29 — PDF (3 pages)