House Committee Set to Vote on Groundbreaking ARMA Bill

The American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA) of 2026 is set to undergo a crucial vote in the House Financial Services Committee on September 16. Introduced by Rep. Nick Begich and co-sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden, the bipartisan bill proposes significant changes to how the government manages its digital assets.

One key aspect of the bill is a 20-year lockup period during which the government would be prohibited from trading or selling Bitcoin. However, this restriction can be lifted if the proceeds from liquidation are used to retire outstanding federal debt.

The legislation also requires that all Bitcoin obtained through criminal seizures or penalties be surrendered to the national Bitcoin reserve instead of being auctioned off. Furthermore, it mandates the establishment of a 'Digital Asset Stockpile' for holding altcoins and other digital assets. The government would have the authority to sell or trade these assets in exchange for Bitcoin or use them to pay off national debt.

The bill also includes provisions for budget neutrality, where zero costs are incurred for acquiring Bitcoin for the national reserve. This will be achieved by leveraging surplus dollars or a portion of net earnings from Federal Reserve banks. The Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce will work together to determine how to acquire 1 million BTC over five years.

Notably, the bill explicitly bans using debt, new taxes, or deficit spending to purchase Bitcoin. Instead, surplus dollars or a portion of net earnings from Federal Reserve banks can be used for this purpose. To ensure transparency, a decentralized network of secure physical storage facilities will be established across the country, with third-party contractors conducting quarterly audits.