119-hr5046

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5046 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5046

 To require that appointments and selections to United States Military 
 Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force 
 Academy be made solely in order of merit as determined by a 
 standardized candidate composite score, to prohibit the consideration 
of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in service 
 academy admissions, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 August 26, 2025

 Ms. Mace introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require that appointments and selections to United States Military 
 Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force 
 Academy be made solely in order of merit as determined by a 
 standardized candidate composite score, to prohibit the consideration 
of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in service 
 academy admissions, 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 ``Restoring Merit in the Military 
Service Academies Act''.

SEC. 2. SERVICE ACADEMIES; APPOINTMENTS AND ADDITIONAL APPOINTEES; 
 PROHIBITION ON CONSIDERATION OF RACE, SEX, COLOR, 
 ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND RELIGION.

    (a) United States Military Academy.--

    (1) Appointments.--

Section 7442 of title 10, United States 
 Code, is amended--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking ``subsection

    (j) '' and 
 inserting ``subsection

    (k) '';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``as 
 established by competitive examinations'' and 
 inserting ``as determined by candidate 
 composite score rank''; and
            (iii) in the matter following paragraph

    (10) --
            (I) in the second sentence--

    (aa) by inserting ``(in 
 which event selection shall be 
 in order of merit as determined 
 by candidate composite score 
 rank)'' after ``may be 
 submitted without ranking''; 
 and

    (bb) by striking ``9 
 ranked'' and inserting ``14 
 ranked'';
            (II) by inserting after the second 
 sentence the following: ``If alternates 
 are submitted unranked, any selection 
 from among such unranked alternates 
 shall be in order of merit as 
 determined by candidate composite score 
 rank.''; and
            (III) by striking ``shall be 
 considered qualified alternates for the 
 purpose of selection under other 
 provisions of this chapter'' and 
 inserting ``shall be eligible and 
 considered for selection under other 
 provisions of this chapter, including 
 as qualified alternates and additional 
 appointees'';
        (B) by redesignating subsections

    (b) through

    (j) as 
 subsections
            (c) through

    (k) , respectively;
            (C) by inserting after subsection

    (a) the following 
 new subsection:
 ``

    (b) There shall be appointed each year at the Academy 300 
qualified alternates selected in order of merit as determined by 
candidate composite score rank by the Secretary of the Army from 
qualified candidates nominated pursuant to paragraphs

    (3) through

    (10) of subsection

    (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates 
holding nominations from any other source pursuant to this chapter.'';
            (D) in subsection
            (c) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (B) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``one 
 hundred selected by the President'' and 
 inserting ``up to one hundred qualified 
 candidates selected by the President in order 
 of merit as determined by candidate composite 
 score rank'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (I) by striking ``85'' and 
 inserting ``up to 85 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end;
            (iii) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (I) by striking ``85'' and 
 inserting ``up to 85 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end;
            (iv) in paragraph

    (4) --
            (I) by striking ``20'' and 
 inserting ``up to 20 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end; and
            (v) by striking paragraph

    (5) ;
        (E) in subsection

    (f) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (B) , by striking ``subsection

    (b) '' and 
 inserting ``subsection
            (c) '';
        (F) in subsection

    (h) , as so redesignated--
            (i) by striking ``subsection

    (b) '' each 
 place it appears and inserting ``subsection
            (c) ''; and
            (ii) in paragraph

    (4) , by striking 
 ``subsection

    (e) '' and inserting ``subsection

    (f) ''; and
        (G) by adding at the end the following new 
 subsections:
 ``
            (l) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall be 
determined by use of, among other metrics, a candidate composite score 
uniformly calculated for each applicant. The academic component of such 
composite score shall be weighted at not less than 60 percent of the 
overall composite score and shall include the candidate's standardized 
test scores, which shall be weighted at not less than 45 percent of the 
overall composite score. The total of all subjective components, if 
any, of the composite score shall be weighted at not more than 10 
percent of the overall composite score. Any subjectively based 
adjustment of the candidate composite score shall be limited to not 
more than 10 percent of the score before such adjustment. Candidates' 
composite scores, only, shall be used to determine order of merit.
 ``
            (m) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the 
Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report, including--
 ``

    (1) with respect to the preceding admissions cycle--
 ``
        (A) the established minimum candidate composite 
 score and college entrance examination rank

    (CEER) score used in such cycle; and
 ``
        (B) the total number of waivers of such minimum 
 candidate composite score or CEER score, including the 
 candidate composite score and CEER score of each cadet 
 to whom a waiver relates, a brief explanation of the 
 reasons for such waiver, and the category of 
 appointment under which each such cadet was appointed 
 (and if congressional, the type of slate that nominated 
 the waived appointee); and
 ``

    (2) for each cadet who, during the four-year period 
 preceding the date of the report, received a waiver for the 
 established minimum candidate composite score or CEER score, 
 the status of each such cadet, including whether the cadet is 
 still at the Academy, the circumstances of such cadet's 
 departure (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, 
 cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or honor violations, 
 any remedial measures undertaken, and any other noteworthy 
 information concerning such cadet.
 ``

    (n) The race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion 
of an applicant may not be considered in a determination whether to 
admit such applicant to the Academy.''.

    (2) Additional appointees.--

Section 7443 of title 10, 
 United States Code, is amended--
        (A) in the section heading, by striking 
 ``appointment'' and inserting ``additional 
 appointments'';
        (B) in the first sentence--
            (i) by inserting ``

    (a) '' before ``If it is 
 determined''; and
            (ii) by striking ``who competed for 
 nomination'' and inserting ``who were eligible 
 and competed unsuccessfully for nomination 
 under any other provision of law'';
            (C) in the second sentence--
            (i) by striking ``

    (8) '' and inserting 
 ``

    (10) ''; and
            (ii) by striking ``holding competitive 
 nominations'' and inserting ``who were eligible 
 and competed unsuccessfully for nomination''; 
 and
            (D) by adding at the end the following: ``All 
 provisions relating to candidate composite score in 
 

section 7442 of this title shall apply to calculation 
 and use of candidate composite score as that term is 
 used in this section.''
 ``

    (b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the 
Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that 
includes, with respect to the preceding admissions cycle--
 ``

    (1) the candidate composite scores and college entrance 
 examination rank

    (CEER) scores of the ten candidates appointed 
 under this section and under 

section 7442

    (e) of this title who 
 had the lowest candidate composite scores;
 ``

    (2) the total number of qualified and nominated (by any 
 source), but not selected, candidates; and
 ``

    (3) the candidate composite scores and CEER scores of the 
 ten qualified and nominated candidates having the highest 
 candidate composite scores and who were not selected for 
 appointment.''.

    (b) United States Naval Academy.--

    (1) Appointments.--

Section 8454 of title 10, United States 
 Code, is amended--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking ``subsection

    (h) '' and 
 inserting ``subsection
            (i) '';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``as 
 established by competitive examination'' and 
 inserting ``as determined by candidate 
 composite score rank''; and
            (iii) in the matter following paragraph

    (10) --
            (I) in the second sentence--

    (aa) by inserting ``(in 
 which event selection shall be 
 in order of merit as determined 
 by candidate composite score 
 rank)'' after ``may be 
 submitted without ranking''; 
 and

    (bb) by striking ``9 
 ranked'' and inserting ``14 
 ranked'';
            (II) by inserting after the second 
 sentence the following: ``If alternates 
 are submitted unranked, any selection 
 from among such unranked alternates 
 shall be in order of merit as 
 determined by candidate composite score 
 rank.''; and
            (III) by striking ``shall be 
 considered qualified alternates for the 
 purpose of selection under other 
 provisions of this chapter'' and 
 inserting ``shall be eligible and 
 considered for selection under other 
 provisions of this chapter, including 
 as qualified alternates and additional 
 appointees'';
        (B) by redesignating subsections

    (b) through

    (h) as 
 subsections
            (c) through
            (i) , respectively;
            (C) by inserting after subsection

    (a) the following 
 new subsection:
 ``

    (b) There shall be appointed each year at the Academy 300 
qualified alternates selected in order of merit as determined by 
candidate composite score rank by the Secretary of the Navy from 
qualified candidates nominated pursuant to paragraphs

    (3) through

    (10) of subsection

    (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates 
holding nominations from any other source pursuant to this chapter.'';
            (D) in subsection
            (c) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (B) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``one 
 hundred selected by the President'' and 
 inserting ``up to one hundred qualified 
 candidates selected by the President in order 
 of merit as determined by candidate composite 
 score rank'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (I) by striking ``85'' and 
 inserting ``up to 85 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end;
            (iii) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (I) by striking ``85'' and 
 inserting ``up to 85 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end;
            (iv) in paragraph

    (4) --
            (I) by striking ``20'' and 
 inserting ``up to 20 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end; and
            (v) by striking paragraph

    (5) ;
        (E) in subsection

    (f) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (B) , by striking ``subsection

    (b) '' both 
 places it appears and inserting ``subsection
            (c) ''; and
        (F) by adding at the end the following new 
 subsections:
 ``

    (j) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall be 
determined by use of, among other metrics, a candidate composite score 
uniformly calculated for each applicant. The academic component of such 
composite score shall be weighted at not less than 60 percent of the 
overall composite score and shall include the candidate's standardized 
test scores, which shall be weighted at not less than 45 percent of the 
overall composite score. The total of all subjective components, if 
any, of the composite score shall be weighted at not more than 10 
percent of the overall composite score. Any subjectively based 
adjustment of the candidate composite score shall be limited to not 
more than 10 percent of the score before such adjustment. Candidates' 
composite scores, only, shall be used to determine order of merit.
 ``

    (k) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the 
Navy shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report, including--
 ``

    (1) with respect to the preceding admissions cycle--
 ``
        (A) the established minimum candidate composite 
 score and college entrance examination rank

    (CEER) score used in such cycle; and
 ``
        (B) the total number of waivers of such minimum 
 candidate composite score or CEER score, including the 
 candidate composite score and CEER score of each 
 midshipman to whom a waiver relates, a brief 
 explanation of the reasons for such waiver, and the 
 category of appointment under which each such 
 midshipman was appointed (and if congressional, the 
 type of slate that nominated the waived appointee); and
 ``

    (2) for each midshipman who, during the four-year period 
 preceding the date of the report, received a waiver for the 
 established minimum candidate composite score or CEER score, 
 the status of each such midshipman, including whether the 
 midshipman is still at the Academy, the circumstances of such 
 midshipman's departure (if applicable), the cumulative academic 
 GPA, cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or honor 
 violations, any remedial measures undertaken, and any other 
 noteworthy information concerning such midshipman.
 ``
            (l) The race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion 
of an applicant may not be considered in a determination whether to 
admit such applicant to the Academy.''.

    (2) Additional appointees.--

Section 8456 of title 10, 
 United States Code, is amended--
        (A) in the section heading, by inserting ``, 
 additional appointments'' after ``Midshipmen''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
 ``who competed for nomination'' and inserting 
 ``who were eligible and competed unsuccessfully 
 for nomination under any other provision of 
 law'';
            (ii) in the second sentence--
            (I) by striking ``

    (8) '' and 
 inserting ``

    (10) ''; and
            (II) by striking ``who competed for 
 appointment'' and inserting ``who were 
 eligible and competed unsuccessfully 
 for nomination''; and
            (iii) by adding at the end the following: 
 ``All provisions relating to candidate 
 composite score in 

section 8454 of this title 
 shall apply to calculation and use of candidate 
 composite score as that term is used in this 
 section.
 ``
            (d) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the 
Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that 
includes, with respect to the preceding admissions cycle--
 ``

    (1) the candidate composite scores and college entrance 
 examination rank

    (CEER) scores of the ten candidates appointed 
 under this section and under 

section 8454

    (e) of this title who 
 had the lowest candidate composite scores;
 ``

    (2) the total number of qualified and nominated (by any 
 source), but not selected, candidates; and
 ``

    (3) the candidate composite scores and CEER scores of the 
 ten qualified and nominated candidates having the highest 
 candidate composite scores and who were not selected for 
 appointment.''.
            (c) United States Air Force Academy.--

    (1) Appointments.--

Section 9442 of title 10, United States 
 Code, is amended--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking ``subsection

    (j) '' and 
 inserting ``subsection

    (k) '';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``as 
 established by competitive examination'' and 
 inserting ``as determined by candidate 
 composite score rank''; and
            (iii) in the matter following paragraph

    (10) --
            (I) in the second sentence--

    (aa) by inserting ``(in 
 which event selection shall be 
 in order of merit as determined 
 by candidate composite score 
 rank)'' after ``may be 
 submitted without ranking''; 
 and

    (bb) by striking ``9 
 ranked'' and inserting ``14 
 ranked'';
            (II) by inserting after the second 
 sentence the following: ``If alternates 
 are submitted unranked, any selection 
 from among such unranked alternates 
 shall be in order of merit as 
 determined by candidate composite score 
 rank.''; and
            (III) by striking ``shall be 
 considered qualified alternates for the 
 purpose of selection under other 
 provisions of this chapter'' and 
 inserting ``shall be eligible and 
 considered for selection under other 
 provisions of this chapter, including 
 as qualified alternates and additional 
 appointees'';
        (B) by redesignating subsections

    (b) through

    (j) as 
 subsections
            (c) through

    (k) , respectively;
            (C) by inserting after subsection

    (a) the following 
 new subsection:
 ``

    (b) There shall be appointed each year at the Academy 300 
qualified alternates selected in order of merit as determined by 
candidate composite score rank by the Secretary of the Air Force from 
qualified candidates nominated pursuant to paragraphs

    (3) through

    (10) of subsection

    (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates 
holding nominations from any other source pursuant to this chapter.'';
            (D) in subsection
            (c) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (B) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``one 
 hundred selected by the President'' and 
 inserting ``up to one hundred qualified 
 candidates selected by the President in order 
 of merit as determined by candidate composite 
 score rank'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (I) by striking ``85'' and 
 inserting ``up to 85 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end;
            (iii) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (I) by striking ``85'' and 
 inserting ``up to 85 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end;
            (iv) in paragraph

    (4) --
            (I) by striking ``20'' and 
 inserting ``up to 20 qualified 
 candidates''; and
            (II) by inserting ``, selected in 
 order of merit as determined by 
 candidate composite score rank'' before 
 the period at the end; and
            (v) by striking paragraph

    (5) ;
        (E) in subsection

    (f) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (B) , by striking ``subsection

    (b) '' and 
 inserting ``subsection
            (c) '';
        (F) in subsection

    (h) , as so redesignated--
            (i) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking 
 ``subsection

    (b) '' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``subsection
            (c) '';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (I) by striking ``subsection

    (b)

    (5) '' and insert ``subsection

    (b) '';
            (II) in subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (C) , by striking ``subsection

    (b) '' 
 each place it appears and inserting 
 ``subsection
            (c) ''; and
            (iii) in paragraph

    (4) , by striking 
 ``subsection

    (e) '' and inserting ``subsection

    (f) ''; and
        (G) by adding at the end the following new 
 subsections:
 ``
            (l) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall be 
determined by use of, among other metrics, a candidate composite score 
uniformly calculated for each applicant. The academic component of such 
composite score shall be weighted at not less than 60 percent of the 
overall composite score and shall include the candidate's standardized 
test scores, which shall be weighted at not less than 45 percent of the 
overall composite score. The total of all subjective components, if 
any, of the composite score shall be weighted at not more than 10 
percent of the overall composite score. Any subjectively based 
adjustment of the candidate composite score shall be limited to not 
more than 10 percent of the score before such adjustment. Candidates' 
composite scores, only, shall be used to determine order of merit.
 ``
            (m) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the 
Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report, including--
 ``

    (1) with respect to the preceding admissions cycle--
 ``
        (A) the established minimum candidate composite 
 score and college entrance examination rank

    (CEER) score used in such cycle; and
 ``
        (B) the total number of waivers of such minimum 
 candidate composite score or CEER score, including the 
 candidate composite score and CEER score of each cadet 
 to whom a waiver relates, a brief explanation of the 
 reasons for such waiver, and the category of 
 appointment under which each such cadet was appointed 
 (and if congressional, the type of slate that nominated 
 the waived appointee); and
 ``

    (2) for each cadet who, during the four-year period 
 preceding the date of the report, received a waiver for the 
 established minimum candidate composite score or CEER score, 
 the status of each such cadet, including whether the cadet is 
 still at the Academy, the circumstances of such cadet's 
 departure (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, 
 cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or honor violations, 
 any remedial measures undertaken, and any other noteworthy 
 information concerning such cadet.
 ``

    (n) The race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion 
of an applicant may not be considered in a determination whether to 
admit such applicant to the Academy.''.

    (2) Additional appointees.--

Section 9443 of title 10, 
 United States Code, is amended--
        (A) in the section heading, by striking 
 ``appointment'' and inserting ``additional 
 appointments'';
        (B) in the first sentence--
            (i) by inserting ``

    (a) '' before ``If it is 
 determined''; and
            (ii) by striking ``who competed for 
 nomination'' and inserting ``who were eligible 
 and competed unsuccessfully for nomination 
 under any other provision of law'';
            (C) in the second sentence--
            (i) by striking ``

    (8) '' and inserting 
 ``

    (10) ''; and
            (ii) by striking ``holding competitive 
 nominations'' and inserting ``who were eligible 
 and competed unsuccessfully for nomination''; 
 and
            (D) by adding at the end the following: ``All 
 provisions relating to candidate composite score in 
 

section 9442 of this title shall apply to calculation 
 and use of candidate composite score as that term is 
 used in this section.
 ``

    (b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the 
Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
that includes, with respect to the preceding admissions cycle--
 ``

    (1) the candidate composite scores and college entrance 
 examination rank

    (CEER) scores of the ten candidates appointed 
 under this section and under 

section 9442

    (e) of this title who 
 had the lowest candidate composite scores;
 ``

    (2) the total number of qualified and nominated (by any 
 source), but not selected, candidates; and
 ``

    (3) the candidate composite scores and CEER scores of the 
 ten qualified and nominated candidates having the highest 
 candidate composite scores and who were not selected for 
 appointment.''.
 <all>