S. 5128

119 S5128 IS: Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-07-23
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5128  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    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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education Act   or the   GRACE Act  .
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.