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119-s-3226119th Congress

Bring Our Heroes Home Act

Sponsored By: Senator Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

In Committee

Summary

Public disclosure and preservation of records on missing military and civilian personnel. This bill would create a Missing Armed Forces and Civilian Personnel Records Collection at the National Archives and an independent Review Board to push agencies to preserve, transmit, and—when appropriate—declassify records so families and the public can pursue the fullest possible accounting.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

10-year disclosure rule and standards

This bill would make public disclosure the default for records about missing personnel and set strict rules for postponing disclosure. Postponement would require clear and convincing evidence and depends on record age and subject matter, with narrow categories listed for sensitive newer records and tighter limits for older records. The bill would allow some exceptions to protect living confidential sources, privacy, military survival methods, or to follow classification laws. Not later than 10 years after a Board quorum, all missing records must be public unless an originating head files a timely unclassified recommendation and the President certifies continued postponement by the 10-year date.

Archivist collection, deadlines, and funding

This bill would require the Archivist to start a Missing Armed Forces and Civilian Personnel Records Collection within 90 days of a Board quorum. Agencies would have to identify, preserve, copy, and certify under penalty of perjury any missing personnel records and not destroy or alter them. Each agency would have 270 days after the Board quorum to locate, review, and begin sending copies to the Archivist. The bill would authorize whatever money is needed to carry out these tasks, with funds available until spent.

New review board and oversight powers

This bill would create a five-member independent Review Board to find and review missing Armed Forces and civilian personnel records. The President would appoint members and the Senate would confirm them. The Board would hire an Executive Director within 45 days, pay members at the daily equivalent of Executive Schedule Level IV, and may hire staff up to Level V pay. The Board could hold hearings, take testimony, issue subpoenas (enforceable in federal court), and publish regular public notices and annual reports about its activities.

DPAA and casualty office exemptions

This bill would let the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency keep documents confidential for specific cases it is actively investigating to locate, disinter, or identify missing service members. It would also let Military Service Casualty Offices and State Service Casualty Offices keep case-level files confidential when they are directly helping families. These exemptions would apply only to active case files and not to other records.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

ID • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/2/2026

  • Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

    ME • I

    Sponsored 6/2/2026

  • Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 7/29/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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