Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act of 2025
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to verify personal and biometric information for individuals evacuated from Afghanistan. This process includes conducting in-person vetting and maintaining a specific database for these individuals. The Secretary must submit quarterly reports to Congress regarding the progress and compliance of this vetting process. Once the process is finished, the Secretary must certify the completion to Congress. Additionally, the Comptroller General is tasked with conducting audits and investigations to ensure compliance. Finally, the bill restricts certain individuals from receiving specific types of federal aid if they do not complete these requirements.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates quarterly reports to Congress regarding the progress of the vetting process.
- Scored +3
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill implements enhanced vetting and biometric tracking for individuals evacuated from Afghanistan.
- Scored +2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill restricts certain individuals from receiving federal means-tested public benefits, which may reduce overall spending.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -6
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill restricts the ability of Afghan evacuees to receive essential federal assistance and unemployment compensation.
- Scored -5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill creates barriers to accessing federal means-tested public benefits for Afghan evacuees.
- Scored -5
Does this increase support for people who lose their jobs?
The bill restricts access to unemployment compensation for Afghan evacuees who do not complete the required vetting process.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Accountability through oversight: The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing the vetting status and any criminal records of individuals evacuated from Afghanistan (Section 2(c)).
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Financial oversight: The Secretary is required to maintain a database that tracks any application for or receipt of unemployment compensation or Federal means-tested public benefits (Section 2(b)(2)(D)).
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Verification of compliance: The Comptroller General is mandated to conduct audits and investigations to ensure the Secretary is complying with the Act (Section 2(e)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Denial of financial assistance: Individuals evacuated from Afghanistan who fail to provide personal and biometric information or do not undergo in-person vetting are prohibited from receiving unemployment compensation or any Federal means-tested public benefit (Section 2(f)).
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Mandatory in-person requirements: Individuals must undergo in-person vetting and provide personal and biometric information to remain eligible for certain benefits (Section 2(b)(1) and Section 2(f)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill restricts the ability of Afghan evacuees to receive essential federal assistance and unemployment compensation. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill creates barriers to accessing federal means-tested public benefits for Afghan evacuees. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill imposes strict biometric and in-person requirements on individuals from Afghanistan, which may disproportionately impact this group.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill restricts certain individuals from receiving federal means-tested public benefits, which may reduce overall spending. Does this increase support for people who lose their jobs? — The bill restricts access to unemployment compensation for Afghan evacuees who do not complete the required vetting process.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates quarterly reports to Congress regarding the progress of the vetting process.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill implements enhanced vetting and biometric tracking for individuals evacuated from Afghanistan. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prohibits certain evacuees from receiving federal means-tested public benefits, which could increase economic hardship.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The creation of a biometric and personal information database enhances domestic security tracking capabilities.
- 12/2/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.