H.R. 1537: Uniting American Families Act of 2011

112th Congress · introduced 2011-04-14 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2011-04-14 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-8] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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 2011

Plain summary

Uniting American Families Act of 2011 - 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, anyone 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: (1) "permanent partnership" as the relationship existing between two permanent partners, and (2) "alien permanent partner" as the individual in a permanent partnership who is being sponsored for a visa.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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 2011

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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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: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-8] · 144 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), André Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), James A. Himes (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN) and 84 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-8] reported raising $258,402 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Sponsor and cosponsor: The sponsor is the member who introduces a bill and leads it. Cosponsors are other members who sign on to show support.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112hr1537.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/hr>

Record fed-us-cong112-hr1537 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112