American Reserve Modernization Act Heads to House Vote With Limited Democratic Support

The Legislation Takes Shape

H.R. 8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act, is scheduled for a House committee vote on Wednesday. The bill would codify a federal Bitcoin reserve for the first time, place it under Treasury management, impose a 20-year holding rule to prevent rapid liquidation, and establish formal oversight mechanisms. The measure represents the first legislative attempt to put Bitcoin holdings into statutory framework rather than executive policy.

Bipartisan Support Remains Thin

Despite crypto gaining traction across both parties in Congress, the bill has attracted only one Democratic cosponsor—and that member does not sit on the committee considering it Wednesday. The narrow Democratic backing stands in contrast to the broader congressional momentum on crypto legislation, signaling that a formal federal Bitcoin reserve, while gaining Republican support, has not yet solidified cross-party consensus. The CLARITY Act, a competing piece of crypto policy legislation, has stalled in the interim.

What Passage Would Mean

If approved, the bill would require the federal government to hold and manage Bitcoin as a strategic asset rather than merely hold it administratively. The 20-year minimum holding period is designed to prevent political pressure for sales during market downturns or budget pressures, anchoring Bitcoin as a long-term reserve asset similar to gold. The legislation does not specify a target reserve size or acquisition strategy beyond the holding mandate.