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."
Rachel Asher - Rachel Asher is a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader. She has a Masters Degree in Gender and Women's Studies from Trinity College ...
Join the Conversation