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H.R. 3217: USA Act of 2023

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H.R. 3217: USA Act of 2023

118th Congress · introduced 2023-05-11 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2023-05-11 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · 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

USA Act of 2023

Plain summary

Updated Standards for Asylum Act of 2023 or the USA Act of 2023 This bill modifies standards and requirements related to individuals seeking asylum. For an individual to establish a credible fear of persecution, the bill requires it to be more probable than not that the statements in support of the claim are true. The bill also imposes certain rules relating to credible fear interviews, including requirements for recordings and interpreters. For example, the Department of Homeland Security must establish procedures to ensure that individuals subject to expedited removal are questioned in a uniform manner and that the questions and answers are recorded in a uniform fashion. The bill also bars an individual from seeking asylum if that individual may be safely removed to a third country (i.e., not the individual's country of nationality), whereas currently this bar only applies if such removal is to a third country pursuant to an agreement with the United States. If an individual is granted asylum because of fear of persecution in a country, the individual shall be deemed to have renounced asylum status by returning to that country, if there has been no change in the country's conditions. Any individual who knowingly and willfully makes materially false statements or uses fraudulent documents in asylum-related proceedings shall be fined or imprisoned up to 10 years, or both.

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)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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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. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] reported raising $1.5 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 (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).
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong118-hr3217 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong118 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong118