(10) The Supreme Court has further explained 
that ‘‘the Establishment Clause does not include 
anything like a modified heckler’s veto, in which reli-
gious activity can be proscribed based on perceptions 
or discomfort and that the Clause does not compel 
the government to purge from the public sphere any-
thing an objective observer could reasonably infer 
endorses or partakes of the religion.’’ (Kennedy v. 
Bremerton School District (2022)). 
(11) The Supreme Court has made clear that 
chaplains in the Armed Forces do not forfeit their 
First Amendment rights by virtue of their military 
service (Parker v. Levy (1974)). 
(12) The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 
1993 (Public Law 103–141; 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et 
seq.) ‘‘applies to all Federal law, and the implemen-
tation of that law, whether statutory or otherwise, 
and whether adopted before or after [November 16, 
1993]’’ (section 6 of the Religious Freedom Restora-
tion Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–141; 42 U.S.C. 
2000bb–3)). 
SEC. 3. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND 
PROTECTIONS 
FOR 
CHAPLAINS 
IN 
THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ARMY.— 
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(1) CHAPLAIN
CORPS
AND
CHIEF
OF
CHAP-
LAINS.—Section 7073 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) The Chief of Chaplains shall serve as an adviser 
to the Secretary of the Army. 
‘‘(d) The Army Chaplaincy shall provide the following 
and shall be overseen by the Office of the Chief of Chap-
lains: 
‘‘(1) Advise and assist commanders in dis-
charging their responsibilities to provide free exer-
cise of religion in military service, pursuant to the 
First Amendment of the United States Constitution, 
section 2000bb–1 of title 42, United States Code, 
and related statutes and policies. 
‘‘(2) Serve as principal advisers to commanders 
on all issues concerning religious practices, spiritual 
readiness, religious provisions and religion’s influ-
ence on military operations. 
‘‘(3) Assist commanders in managing religious 
affairs, including the accommodation of religious 
practices and the development of policies and proce-
dures related to the free exercise of religion. 
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‘‘(4) Oversee education and training programs 
concerning the accommodation of religious practices 
for service members. 
‘‘(5) Provide guidance on the qualifications and 
requirements for religious-endorsing organizations 
submitting candidates for military chaplaincy. 
‘‘(6) Evaluate requests for the accommodation 
of religious practices and advise commanders on 
their approval or denial. 
‘‘(7) Advise and assist commanders in address-
ing crisis and suicide prevention initiatives.’’. 
(2) CHAPLAIN.—Section 7217 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 7217. Duties, responsibilities, requirements, and 
protections for chaplains in the Army 
‘‘(a) DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES
AND
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) A chaplain in the Army shall do the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Meet the religious requirements and 
care for the spiritual needs of service members, 
other authorized persons and their dependents. 
‘‘(B) Assist Armed Services Commanders 
by serving as an adviser to all religious accom-
modation requests and by providing advice on 
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spiritual readiness, and matters concerning reli-
gion, morals, ethics, well-being, and morale. 
‘‘(C) Have a primary role in providing for 
the free exercise of religion and other religious 
requirements associated with the free exercise 
of religion. 
‘‘(D) Personally meet the religious require-
ments of persons in their assigned military 
units, potentially in isolated or combat environ-
ments. 
‘‘(E) Conduct religious ministry activities 
consistent with the tenets of their religious-en-
dorsing organizations. 
‘‘(F) Advise Combatant Commands, com-
manding officers, and organizations, as appro-
priate, on religion, morals, ethics, well-being, 
morale, and spiritual readiness in the unit, in-
cluding religion’s impact on military operations. 
‘‘(G) Facilitate meeting the religious needs 
and requirements for those persons to whom 
they cannot directly minister. 
‘‘(H) Maintain confidentiality of privileged 
communications. 
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‘‘(2) In carrying out subparagraph (G) of para-
graph (1), a chaplain in the Army may do the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Connect the person with a different 
chaplain, or a chaplain of the person’s faith, 
who can directly provide for their needs. 
‘‘(B) Equip the person with the tools or 
materials necessary to meet their own needs. 
‘‘(C) Coordinate the appointment of faith 
group-specific religious lay leaders. 
‘‘(D) Offer information on how to draw 
from local, civilian, or other resources. 
‘‘(3) The tasks of a chaplain in the Army may 
include, but are not limited to, the following: 
‘‘(A) Performing rites, rituals, ordinances, 
and ceremonies. 
‘‘(B) Visiting workspaces. 
‘‘(C) Counseling, meeting, advising and 
praying with individuals or groups. 
‘‘(D) Providing crisis prevention and re-
sponse. 
‘‘(E) Conducting religious services, cere-
monies, and observances (e.g., memorials, wed-
dings, retirements, sermons, worship, burials). 
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