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HR 1573 117th Congress House Immigration Administrative remedies Border security and unlawful immigration Department of Homeland Security Detention of persons Evidence and witnesses Immigration status and procedures Lawyers and legal services Refugees, asylum, displaced persons Telephone and wireless communication Visas and passports

Access to Counsel Act of 2021

Introduced: March 8, 2021 Introduced by: Jayapal, Pramila Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 19 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 22, 2021
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 21, 2021
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2016)
Apr 21, 2021
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 215 (Roll no. 128).
Apr 21, 2021
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2030-2032)
Apr 21, 2021
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Apr 21, 2021
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - The Chair put the question on the Issa motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Issa demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Apr 21, 2021
The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.
Apr 21, 2021
Mr. Issa moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2024)
Apr 21, 2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1573.
Apr 21, 2021
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 51, H.R. 1573 and H.R. 1333. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The previous question on each measure is considered ordered without intervening motions except one hour of debate and a motion to recommit. H. Res. 316 and H. Con. Res. 30 are adopted.
Apr 21, 2021
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 330. (consideration: CR H2016-2025)
Apr 21, 2021
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 20, 2021
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 330 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 51, H.R. 1573 and H.R. 1333. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The previous question on each measure is considered ordered without intervening motions except one hour of debate and a motion to recommit. H. Res. 316 and H. Con. Res. 30 are adopted.
Apr 16, 2021
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8.
Apr 16, 2021
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.
Apr 14, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 14, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.
Mar 3, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 3, 2021
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Apr 21, 2021 House · vote #129 On Passage Passed 217–207 See who voted →
Apr 21, 2021 House · vote #128 On Motion to Recommit Failed 209–215 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 43 — Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 330, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Comm… Agreed to Apr 21, 2021
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Access to Counsel Act of 2021

This bill provides various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States. Covered individuals include U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, aliens in possession of a visa, returning asylees, and refugees.

The Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that a covered individual subject to secondary or deferred inspection has a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and certain related parties, such as a relative, within an hour of the start of the secondary inspection and as necessary during the inspection process. The counsel and related party shall be allowed to advocate on behalf of the covered individual, including by providing evidence and information to the examining immigration officer.

A lawful permanent resident subject to secondary or deferred inspection may not abandon lawful permanent resident status until the individual has had a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel, unless the individual voluntarily and knowingly waives in writing this opportunity to seek counsel's advice.

What's happening now April 22, 2021

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HRES 330 Related bill Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 51) to provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into th…
  • S 1912 Identical bill Access to Counsel Act of 2021
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 37
All 37 Democratic 35
D
Casten, Sean
Illinois · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Lieu, Ted
California · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Neguse, Joe
Colorado · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Correa, J. Luis
California · Mar 26, 2021
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Jacobs, Sara
California · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Leger Fernandez, Teresa
New Mexico · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Torres, Norma J.
California · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Torres, Ritchie
New York · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Vargas, Juan
California · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Mar 10, 2021
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Mar 10, 2021
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Mar 10, 2021
 D
Gallego, Ruben
Arizona · Mar 10, 2021
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Khanna, Ro
California · Mar 9, 2021
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Pressley, Ayanna
Massachusetts · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Mar 9, 2021
 D
Chu, Judy
California · Mar 8, 2021
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Mar 8, 2021
Deutch, Theodore
· Mar 8, 2021
 D
Garcia, Sylvia R.
Texas · Mar 8, 2021
 D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · Mar 8, 2021
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Mar 8, 2021
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Mar 8, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 8, 2021
RUSH, BOBBY
· Mar 8, 2021
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Mar 8, 2021
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Mar 8, 2021
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Mar 8, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1573: Access to Counsel Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1573/
MLA
"H.R. 1573: Access to Counsel Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1573/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1573, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1573/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1573: Access to Counsel Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1573/)
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