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H.R. 4736: Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act

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H.R. 4736: Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-28 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. 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

Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act

Plain summary

Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act This bill requires the Department of State to provide priority refugee status to eligible habitual residents of Afghanistan. To be eligible for such priority status, a habitual resident of Afghanistan must also be a national of Afghanistan or stateless. Such an individual shall receive priority refugee status if the individual (1) has suffered persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution and worked in a specified field that makes the individual a target of persecution on account of race, religion, or other characteristics; (2) was employed for at least one year in Afghanistan by U.S.-based media or nongovernmental entities or an entity that received a contract or grant from the U.S. government; or (3) is the beneficiary of a visa petition sponsored by a relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The State Department may also provide priority status to other groups of individuals who are nationals and residents of Afghanistan. Certain annual numerical limits on refugee admissions shall not apply to individuals who receive priority status under this bill. For refugee applications under this bill, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that all steps in the approval process in the U.S. government's control are completed within six months of an application's submission, with exceptions for cases that need more time to address national security concerns.

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

Improving Access for Afghan Refugees 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. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] · 46 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Lois Frankel (D-FL), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Rick Larsen (D-WA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Dina Titus (D-NV), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Mike Levin (D-CA), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Ed Case (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), James A. Himes (D-CT), Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)

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 (3)
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).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
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

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4736 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117