A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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 Afghan Ally Records and Credential Heritage Act (ARCH Act) establishes a process for certain at-risk Afghan allies to have their records preserved. It defines an Afghan ally as specific individuals, such as members of special operations, certain female employees, or individuals associated with intelligence and justice sectors, who served for at least one year between 2001 and 2021. The Secretary of Defense is required to create a secure online portal for these individuals to apply for classification and upload supporting documentation. Once verified, the Secretary will preserve a complete record including service history and biometrics for potential future use. The bill also outlines a review process for denials, including the right to appeal or request to reopen a request.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill specifically includes female members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces as eligible allies.
- Scored +5
Would men be better off under this?
The bill provides a mechanism for many male combatants and staff to preserve their service records.
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill assists individuals who served in a capacity similar to U.S. military personnel.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Verification of Service: The bill allows individuals to provide documentation to verify their status as Afghan allies, which helps preserve their service history and biometrics for potential future use (Section 2(c)(3)).
-
Accessibility of Application: The creation of a secure online portal allows applicants to submit their own applications or have a designee do so, regardless of their location as long as they are outside the United States (Section 2(c)(2)).
-
No Financial Burden for Applicants: The Secretary of Defense is prohibited from charging any fees in connection with a request for classification or records preservation (Section 2(c)(6)(A)).
-
Rights of Appeal: Individuals who are denied classification are provided a written notice explaining the basis for the denial and have the opportunity to submit an appeal or a request to reopen their request (Section 2(c)(4)).
-
Legal Support: Applicants have the right to be represented by an attorney or another accredited representative during the application process (Section 2(c)(6)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Risk of Denial: An applicant may be denied classification if the Secretary of Defense determines they are not an Afghan ally or if there is significant derogatory information associated with them (Section 2(c)(4)(A)).
-
Limited Appeals: An applicant is limited to submitting no more than one written appeal for each denial, and the Secretary of Defense may deny subsequent requests to reopen a request after one has been considered (Section 2(c)(4)(A)(ii) and (C)(ii)).
-
Cost of Representation: While the application process itself has no fees, any legal representation for the applicant cannot be at the expense of the United States Government (Section 2(c)(6)(C)).
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 assists at-risk individuals who may need verified records to facilitate future immigration. Would men be better off under this? — The bill provides a mechanism for many male combatants and staff to preserve their service records. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill assists individuals who served in a capacity similar to U.S. military personnel. Would women be better off under this? — The bill specifically includes female members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces as eligible allies.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill provides rights to notice, appeal, and legal representation for applicants. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill creates a formal process for recording service history which provides clarity for the individuals involved. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the role of the Secretary of Defense in managing these foreign-related records.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — While not traditional veterans, the bill provides record preservation for individuals who served alongside U.S. forces. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill demonstrates a commitment to maintaining ties with at-risk allies in Afghanistan.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — The bill helps preserve records that could facilitate future immigration or legal status for at-risk allies.
- 8/7/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 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.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina