Uniting American Families Act in Congress

Binational Same-Sex Couples and Immigration Rights

Feb 17, 2009 Rachel Asher

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a law that would help same-sex couples in the US, was introduced to the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 12.

UAFA, originally called the Permanent Partners Immigration Act, will expand United States immigration law to include "permanent partners" in addition to spouses. Currently, there are approximately 40,000 same-sex couples in the US where one partner is not a citizen or permanent resident. Without national laws recognizing same-sex relationships, immigrant partners rely on student, tourist, and temporary work visas to keep their families unified. UAFA would allow these immigrants to stay in the country based on their long-term relationships with their same-sex American partners.

On Thursday, Feb. 12, the UAFA was introduced, as a bill, to the House of Representatives by its original author, Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York. It was also introduced to the Senate by long-time supporter Patrick Leahy, a senator from Vermont.

From Bill to Law

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and convoluted one. Initially, a bill is an idea that is written up as a proposed law. The author of the bill can then contact congressmen to be cosponsors. Following this, the bill is introduced while the House or the Senate is in session. It may not even warrant a general announcement, a bill can be introduced with a congressman's signature as the sponsor, and by "simply placing it in the 'hopper' provided for the purpose at the side of the Clerk's desk in the House Chamber," as the US House of Representatives website explains in its article "Tying It All Together: Learn About the Legislative Process."

After this, the bill is referred to a committee, where it is reviewed and revised, both the committee and the House take time for hearings, where the pros and cons are debated, and then it is brought up for a vote. If it passes in the House, it moves onto the Senate. If it passes in the Senate, the President can then sign it into law.

History of UAFA

UAFA has now been introduced to the House of Representatives six times since 2000, and four times in the Senate. Each time, the bill has garnered increased support, particularly through cosponsors -- Congressmen who endorse the bill before it is introduced. Currently, there are 80 cosponsors in the House and 14 in the Senate. As Rep. Nadler announced to the House, "It is time that we as a society finally acknowledge that a committed, loving family is a committed, loving family, no matter whether a couple is gay or straight. It makes no difference. We should be encouraging and rewarding stable families rather than sweeping them into the margins."

The copyright of the article Uniting American Families Act in Congress in Gay/Gender Issues is owned by Rachel Asher. Permission to republish Uniting American Families Act in Congress in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Representative Jerrold Nadler of NY.

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Comments

Mar 1, 2009 9:49 AM

Guest :

It is time to pass the uniting American families act and make it a law. Our country needs to step up and give all Americans, gay or straight, the basic human right to love and be with the person they love. It is embarrassing the think that this great country can go all over the world to defend the rights of others but yet here on our own soil we practice discrimination at the heart renching level of depriving couples the ability to live together in loving committed relationships. The argument that it will lead to fraud is so laughable. It will stop couples from being forced into desperate actions like fraud. I want you congress men to think about the one person you love with all your heart. Think how you would feel if you were told they have to leave our country. The country your were born in, the country you have spent your life serving. How would you feel if the love of your life was ripped from you and you told you must chose between our country and the person that completes you. Its time for change! Its time to stop the discrimination!

Mar 2, 2009 8:09 PM

Guest :

Thank you for your information. You showed the necessary criteria to pass that law. It make me understand that that law is not easy to pass. My partner and I have been waiting for long long time since 2000. Hope that will be passed ASAP.

2 Comments