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H.R. 4944: Reuniting Families Act

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H.R. 4944: Reuniting Families Act

115th Congress · introduced 2018-02-06 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-02-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 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

Reuniting Families Act

Plain summary

Reuniting Families Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to recapture unused employment-based and family-sponsored visas from FY1992-FY2016; reclassify spouses, permanent partners, minor children, and stepchildren of permanent residents as immediate relatives; repeal the per-country immigration limits; repeal specified bars to reentry and allow waivers of inadmissibility to promote family unity; exempt children of naturalized Filipino veterans from immigration limitations; and allow relatives of a deceased alien to maintain visa eligibility. The bill defines "permanent partner" to purposes of applying the INA to LGBT families and individuals.

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

Reuniting Families Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27] · 62 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Peter Welch (D-VT), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and 2 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27] reported raising $1.4 million (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 (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4944 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115