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S. 424: Uniting American Families Act of 2009

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S. 424: Uniting American Families Act of 2009

111th Congress · introduced 2009-02-12 · Immigration · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2234-2236)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2009-02-12 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2234-2236) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Uniting American Families Act of 2009

Plain summary

Uniting American Families Act of 2009 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a "permanent partner" within the scope of such Act. Defines a "permanent partner" as an individual 18 or older who: (1) is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 or older in which both individuals intend a lifelong commitment; (2) is financially interdependent with the other individual; (3) is not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, any other individual other than the individual; (4) is unable to contract with the other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and (5) is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of the other individual. Defines a "permanent partnership" as the relationship existing between two permanent partners.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Uniting American Families Act of 2009

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · 25 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong111-s424 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111