GRACE Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5128 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5128

To prohibit the award of Federal education funds to educational institutions and agencies that do not allow for religious exemptions to vaccination requirements, and for other purposes.

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 23, 2026

Mr. Lee (for himself and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

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A BILL

To prohibit the award of Federal education funds to educational institutions and agencies that do not allow for religious exemptions to vaccination requirements, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education Act'' or the ``GRACE Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON AWARD OF FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS TO CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES.

(a) In General.--No Federal education funds may be made available to an educational institution or agency that has a vaccination requirement, unless such institution or agency maintains a policy under which-- (1) an individual may be exempted from such requirement if such individual (or their parent or guardian, in the case of an individual who is a child) asserts that receiving the vaccination would violate a sincerely held religious belief; and (2) no documentation or other information is required to be submitted by the individual (or their parent or guardian) to support the validity of such assertion. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years. (2) Educational institution or agency.--The term ``educational institution or agency'' means an elementary school, secondary school, local educational agency, or State educational agency (as those terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)). (3) Vaccination requirement.--The term ``vaccination requirement'' means any requirement by an educational institution or agency that, as a condition for enrollment, attendance, participation in athletics or other student activities, or employment at the institution or agency, requires an individual to have received one or more vaccinations. <all>