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HR 4944 115th Congress House

Reuniting Families Act

Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote family unity, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 6, 2018 Introduced by: Chu, Judy Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Immigration Administrative remediesAsiaBusiness investment and capitalCaribbean area
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Citizenship and naturalizationCriminal justice information and recordsCubaDepartment of Homeland SecurityDomestic violence and child abuseFamily relationshipsForeign laborFraud offenses and financial crimesHuman traffickingImmigration status and proceduresLatin AmericaMarriage and family statusMilitary personnel and dependentsPhilippinesRefugees, asylum, displaced persons
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 6, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 6, 2018
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 6, 2018

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 43
D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Nov 6, 2018
D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Aug 24, 2018
D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Jun 6, 2018
D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · May 17, 2018
D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · May 16, 2018
D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · May 9, 2018
D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · May 7, 2018
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Mar 6, 2018
CROWLEY, JOSEPH
· Feb 14, 2018
O'Rourke, Beto
· Feb 14, 2018
D
Sewell, Terri A.
Alabama · Feb 14, 2018
D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Feb 6, 2018
D
Clark, Katherine M.
Massachusetts · Feb 6, 2018
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Feb 6, 2018
D
Correa, J. Luis
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Gomez, Jimmy
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Green, Al
Texas · Feb 6, 2018
GUTIERREZ, LUIS
· Feb 6, 2018
Hanabusa, Colleen
· Feb 6, 2018
D
Jayapal, Pramila
Washington · Feb 6, 2018
D
Khanna, Ro
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Krishnamoorthi, Raja
Illinois · Feb 6, 2018
D
Lieu, Ted
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Feb 6, 2018
D
Meng, Grace
New York · Feb 6, 2018
D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Feb 6, 2018
D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Feb 6, 2018
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 6, 2018
D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Feb 6, 2018
D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Feb 6, 2018
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Feb 6, 2018
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Feb 6, 2018
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Feb 6, 2018
D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Feb 6, 2018
D
Takano, Mark
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Vargas, Juan
California · Feb 6, 2018
D
Veasey, Marc A.
Texas · Feb 6, 2018
D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Feb 6, 2018
D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Feb 6, 2018
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4944: Reuniting Families Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4944/
MLA
"H.R. 4944: Reuniting Families Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4944/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4944, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4944/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4944: Reuniting Families Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4944/)
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