Restoring Merit in the Military Act
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to ensure that decisions about hiring, promotions, and assignments within the military are based solely on a person’s qualifications and performance, rather than their race or ethnicity. It prohibits the consideration of race in these decisions, with a limited exception for specific, unusual missions abroad where it’s deemed necessary to maximize mission success. The bill also requires detailed reporting on any instances where race is considered for such missions.
Key provisions
- Military personnel actions (accessions, promotions, etc.) must be based on merit.
- Consideration of race, ethnicity, or national origin is prohibited in military personnel decisions.
- A limited exception exists for specific missions abroad where race may be considered to optimize mission success.
- Combatant commanders must approve any tasking utilizing the exception.
- The Secretary of Defense must report details of any mission utilizing the exception to Congress.
Who is affected
- Department of Defense personnel
- Military applicants
- Military officers and enlisted personnel
- Military commanders
Notable changes
- Establishes a strict merit-based system for military personnel decisions.
- Creates a specific exception for mission-related considerations of race in limited circumstances.
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
2 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours