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HR 7946 117th Congress House Immigration Administrative law and regulatory procedures Advisory bodies Citizenship and naturalization Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Department of Homeland Security Employment and training programs Government studies and investigations Immigration status and procedures Military personnel and dependents

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

Introduced: June 14, 2022 Introduced by: Takano, Mark Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 7, 2022
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 6, 2022
Rule H. Res. 1508 passed House.
Dec 6, 2022
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1508 Reported to House. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3648, under a structured rule and H.R. 7946, under a structured rule. The resolution waives the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to any resolution reported through the remainder of the 117th Congress.
Dec 6, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 6, 2022
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 503).
Dec 6, 2022
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1508, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Vicente Gonzalez amendment no. 1.
Dec 6, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7946.
Dec 6, 2022
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1508. (consideration: CR H8763-8773; text: CR H8763-8765)
Dec 6, 2022
The resolution provides consideration of H.R. 3648, under a structured rule and H.R. 7946, under a structured rule. The resolution waives the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to any resolution reported through the remainder of the 117th Congress.
Nov 15, 2022
Committee on Armed Services discharged.
Nov 15, 2022
Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.
Nov 15, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-558, Part I.
Nov 15, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 400.
Jul 27, 2022
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 16.
Jul 27, 2022
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 3, 2022
Introduced in House
Jun 3, 2022
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Dec 6, 2022 House · vote #503 On Passage Passed 220208 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 2

2 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 331 Gonzalez, Vicente Amendment requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to promulgate regulations to implement this Act not lat… Agreed to Dec 6, 2022
HAMDT 330 Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1508, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in House Repor… Agreed to Dec 6, 2022
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

This bill addresses immigration-related issues pertaining to noncitizen (or non-U.S. national) military veterans, including by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide lawful permanent resident status to a veteran subject to removal.

If a noncitizen veteran appears to be eligible for lawful permanent resident status under this bill, that veteran must receive a reasonable opportunity to apply for such status and may not be removed until there is a final administrative decision on the veteran's eligibility.

For the purposes of providing such status under this bill, DHS may waive any applicable grounds of inadmissibility, except for certain crime- or security-related grounds.

The bill also extends certain deadlines relating to obtaining citizenship after serving in the Armed Forces.

DHS must create a system for identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans. Before initiating removal proceedings against a noncitizen, DHS must attempt to determine whether the noncitizen is a veteran. DHS must ensure that veteran status is considered in immigration proceedings.

The bill also requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Defense to take certain actions to facilitate opportunities for military recruits and veterans to obtain U.S. citizenship, such as by training Judge Advocate General Corps members to act as liaisons between the Armed Forces and USCIS on servicemember citizenship applications.

The bill also establishes the Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on cases involving the removal of a servicemember, veteran, or certain family members of a servicemember or veteran. Such an individual may not be removed until the committee has provided a recommendation to DHS about the individual's case, unless the individual is inadmissible due to a conviction for an aggravated felony.

The bill also waives certain grounds of inadmissibility (e.g., being unlawfully present in the United States) for certain noncitizens applying for lawful permanent resident status as an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen who has served at least two years in the Armed Forces.

What's happening now December 7, 2022

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

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7946: Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7946/
MLA
"H.R. 7946: Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7946/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7946, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7946/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7946: Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7946/)
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