Bill Overview
Title: Defending Religious Accommodations for Military Members Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to audit the religious accommodations relating to COVID-19 for the Armed Forces to ensure all applicable federal laws, and guidance and policies of the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and each military department were followed.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Military personnel impacted by religious accommodation policies due to COVID-19
Estimated Size: 1300000
- The bill focuses on auditing religious accommodations related to COVID-19 within the Armed Forces.
- The target population includes military members who sought or may seek religious accommodations related to the COVID-19 policies.
- This includes personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
- There are hundreds of thousands of active-duty personnel in the U.S. military who may be affected by COVID-19-related policies.
- Religious accommodations-specific audits may concern those who have specific religious practices or beliefs impacting their compliance with COVID-19 measures.
Reasoning
- The target population mainly includes military members; hence, interviews with current or recent military members will provide insight into the policy impact.
- There will be a range of perspectives: some military members will benefit directly from the policy, others indirectly, and some not at all; thus, interviews should reflect varying levels of impact.
- The budget constraints suggest that the policy might focus more on auditing administrative processes rather than directly affecting all personnel's personal circumstances immediately.
- Including interviews with family members or military leaders provides breadth to the perceived impact on wellbeing.
- Assigning scores to 'commonness' helps to understand how widespread the described experience or perspective is likely to be.
Simulated Interviews
Army Officer (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I requested religious accommodation for the COVID-19 vaccine, but my request was denied.
- I hope this policy will ensure fairness and adherence to guidelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Navy Engineer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't affect me directly since I didn't request a religious accommodation.
- However, it may improve overall fairness in our processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Air Force Chaplain (Pensacola, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy enhances transparency and ensures adherence to religious rights.
- It is crucial for the morale and trust within the Armed Forces.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Marine Corps Sergeant (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The process was tough, and I felt stressed about my career.
- If implemented effectively, this policy could help others avoid similar stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Coast Guard Technician (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I respect others' needs for religious accommodations, but it's not a pressing concern for all service members.
- This audit might seem bureaucratic but could prevent future issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Defense Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial for the GAO to ensure transparency in military policies.
- The policy audit could hopefully bridge any gaps between policy and practice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Air National Guard Member (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't faced it directly but see peers dealing with these issues.
- This policy might make accommodations easier to navigate for religious reasons.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Marine Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retirement means I'm not directly affected, but I support fairness in religious accommodations.
- The policy should improve clarity and fairness for active members.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Space Force Operator (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a new member, ensuring all policies are followed gives me confidence in the system.
- I hope this can lead to corrective steps if gaps are found.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Policy Advisor (Washington D.C.)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having seen the complexity of military policies, this audit seems essential.
- I believe it could help align military policies with federal laws effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Focuses on auditing the adherence to religious accommodations related to COVID-19 in the Armed Forces.
- Costs are primarily short-term, involving GAO manpower and potential coordination across military departments.
- Potential benefits include improved adherence to legal frameworks and policy guidelines for religious accommodations.