H.R. 7946 · 117th Congress · House

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced
Jun 3, 22
Passed House
Dec 6, 22
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

This bill addresses immigration-related issues pertaining to noncitizen (or non-U.S. national) military veterans, including by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide lawful permanent resident status to a veteran subject to removal.

If a noncitizen veteran appears to be eligible for lawful permanent resident status under this bill, that veteran must receive a reasonable opportunity to apply for such status and may not be removed until there is a final administrative decision on the veteran's eligibility.

For the purposes of providing such status under this bill, DHS may waive any applicable grounds of inadmissibility, except for certain crime- or security-related grounds.

The bill also extends certain deadlines relating to obtaining citizenship after serving in the Armed Forces.

DHS must create a system for identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans. Before initiating removal proceedings against a noncitizen, DHS must attempt to determine whether the noncitizen is a veteran. DHS must ensure that veteran status is considered in immigration proceedings.

The bill also requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Defense to take certain actions to facilitate opportunities for military recruits and veterans to obtain U.S. citizenship, such as by training Judge Advocate General Corps members to act as liaisons between the Armed Forces and USCIS on servicemember citizenship applications.

The bill also establishes the Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on cases involving the removal of a servicemember, veteran, or certain family members of a servicemember or veteran. Such an individual may not be removed until the committee has provided a recommendation to DHS about the individual's case, unless the individual is inadmissible due to a conviction for an aggravated felony.

The bill also waives certain grounds of inadmissibility (e.g., being unlawfully present in the United States) for certain noncitizens applying for lawful permanent resident status as an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen who has served at least two years in the Armed Forces.

Previous Versions

08Nov 15, 2022

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

This bill addresses immigration-related issues pertaining to noncitizen (or non-U.S. national) military veterans, including by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide lawful permanent resident status to a veteran subject to removal.

If a noncitizen veteran appears to be eligible for lawful permanent resident status under this bill, that veteran must receive a reasonable opportunity to apply for such status and may not be removed until there is a final administrative decision on the veteran's eligibility.

For the purposes of providing such status under this bill, DHS may waive any applicable grounds of inadmissibility, except for certain crime- or security-related grounds.

The bill also extends certain deadlines relating to obtaining citizenship after serving in the Armed Forces.

DHS must create a system for identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans. Before initiating removal proceedings against a noncitizen, DHS must attempt to determine whether the noncitizen is a veteran. DHS must ensure that veteran status is considered in immigration proceedings.

The bill also requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Defense to take certain actions to facilitate opportunities for military recruits and veterans to obtain U.S. citizenship, such as by training Judge Advocate General Corps members to act as liaisons between the Armed Forces and USCIS on servicemember citizenship applications.

The bill also establishes the Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on cases involving the removal of a servicemember, veteran, or certain family members of such an individual.

The bill also waives certain grounds of inadmissibility (e.g., being unlawfully present in the United States) for certain noncitizens applying for lawful permanent resident status as an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen who has served at least two years in the Armed Forces.

00Jun 3, 2022

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

This bill addresses immigration-related issues pertaining to noncitizen (or non-U.S. national) military veterans, including by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide lawful permanent resident status to a veteran subject to removal.

If a noncitizen veteran appears to be eligible for lawful permanent resident status under this bill, that veteran must receive a reasonable opportunity to apply for such status and may not be removed until there is a final administrative decision on the veteran's eligibility.

For the purposes of providing such status under this bill, DHS may waive any applicable grounds of inadmissibility, except for certain crime- or security-related grounds.

The bill also extends certain deadlines relating to obtaining citizenship after serving in the Armed Forces.

DHS must create a system for identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans. Before initiating removal proceedings against a noncitizen, DHS must attempt to determine whether the noncitizen is a veteran. DHS must ensure that veteran status is considered in immigration proceedings.

The bill also requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Defense to take certain actions to facilitate opportunities for military recruits and veterans to obtain U.S. citizenship, such as by training Judge Advocate General Corps members to act as liaisons between the Armed Forces and USCIS on servicemember citizenship applications.

The bill also establishes the Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on cases involving the removal of a servicemember, veteran, or certain family members of such an individual.

Action Timeline

24
  1. DEC 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1508 Reported to House. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3648, under a structured rule and H.R. 7946, under a structured rule. The resolution waives the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to any resolution reported through the remainder of the 117th Congress.

  3. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    Rule H

    Res. 1508 passed House.

  4. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1508. (consideration

    CR H8763-8773; text: CR H8763-8765)

    8763Yea
    8773Nay
    0NV
  5. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    The resolution provides consideration of H.R

    3648, under a structured rule and H.R. 7946, under a structured rule. The resolution waives the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to any resolution reported through the remainder of the 117th Congress.

  6. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7946.

  7. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1508, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Vicente Gonzalez amendment no. 1.

  8. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #503

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 503).

    220Yea
    208Nay
    0NV
  9. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #503

    220 - 208 (Roll no. 503).

    220Yea
    208Nay
    0NV
  10. DEC 06, 2022Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  11. NOV 15, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary

    H. Rept. 117-558, Part I.

    117Yea
    558Nay
    0NV
  12. NOV 15, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary

    H. Rept. 117-558, Part I.

    117Yea
    558Nay
    0NV
  13. NOV 15, 2022Committee

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

  14. NOV 15, 2022Discharge

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

  15. NOV 15, 2022Committee

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

  16. NOV 15, 2022Discharge

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

  17. NOV 15, 2022Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 400.

  18. JUL 27, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  19. JUL 27, 2022Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 16.

    23Yea
    16Nay
    0NV
  20. JUN 03, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  21. JUN 03, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  22. JUN 03, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  23. JUN 03, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  24. JUN 03, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Committees

8

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Dec 7, 2022

Active

Armed Services Committee

hsas00

Referred: Nov 15, 2022

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: Nov 15, 2022

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Nov 15, 2022

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Jul 27, 2022

Active

Armed Services Committee

hsas00

Referred: Jun 3, 2022

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: Jun 3, 2022

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Jun 3, 2022

Active