Tillis, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Preserve Records for At-Risk Afghan Allies

Aug 10 2026

Tillis, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Preserve Records for At-Risk Afghan Allies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Recently, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Afghan Ally Records and Credential Heritage (ARCH) Act, legislation requiring the Department of War (DOW) to establish a process to identify, verify, and preserve the service records of certain Afghan allies who served alongside our forces during the war in Afghanistan.

Under the ARCH Act, the DOW would establish a secure online application system through which eligible Afghan allies or their representatives could submit service information and supporting documentation. After reviewing available military, contractor and biometric records, the DOW would preserve verified records for future use. The bill also provides applicants with notice of adverse decisions, an opportunity to appeal and the ability to request reconsideration when new evidence becomes available.

"We owe it to our Afghan allies to provide a fair and efficient process to preserve the service records documenting the sacrifices they made while serving alongside U.S. forces," said Senator Tillis. "I'm proud to cosponsor this effort to ensure those records are available for those who stood with our servicemembers in Afghanistan."

"We owe an enormous debt to the Afghans who supported U.S. forces during their 20-year mission in Afghanistan," said Senator Coons. "In exchange for the huge risk to themselves and their families, we promised them protection. This is a first step to fulfilling that promise by ensuring those who put their lives on the line for our country don't fall through the cracks."

"Thousands of brave Afghans stood shoulder-to-shoulder with American service members in some of the most dangerous missions of the war," said Senator Rounds. "Many of these individuals risked everything to support the United States, yet the records documenting their service remain vulnerable to loss or destruction. The ARCH Act creates a secure process to preserve this documentation, making certain that accurate records are maintained."

"We must keep our covenant with the Afghans who served beside us, risking everything - often at great personal expense to themselves and their families - to further America's mission," said Senator Klobuchar. "Our bipartisan legislation will ensure Afghan allies can be confident their service records will be preserved to help them establish facts about their service in future applications to the U.S. government."

Specifically, the ARCH Act would:

• Establish a Department of War Afghan Allies Records Preservation Program.
• Create a secure online application portal for eligible Afghan allies outside the United States.
• Verify applicants' service using available military, contractor and biometric records.
• Preserve validated service records and supporting documentation for future use.
• Provide applicants with written notice of denials, an appeals process and an opportunity to reopen applications with new evidence.
• Prohibit application fees and authorize personnel necessary to administer the program.
• Maintain the application process for at least ten years, unless the Secretary of Defense later determines that termination is in the national interest.

The legislation recognizes the service of former members of Afghanistan's special operations forces, Afghan Air Force, Special Mission Wing, intelligence personnel, justice-sector officials, female members of the former Afghan security forces and other individuals who supported the United States mission in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.

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