Immigration progress

The recent reintroduction of the Uniting American Families Act (HR1024/S424) came with 80 co-sponsors in the US House of Representatives and 14 in the US Senate. I wanted to know who the co-sponsors are and, specifically, if my US Representatives and US Senators were co-sponsors (Representative yes, Senators no). I had to go digging for the lists, so I’ve included them below in case anyone who lands on this post is looking for the same information.

These lists always grow over time, of course, as more members of Congress add their names. So, at this stage I wouldn’t worry about the absence of some of the well-known supporters of equality, nor the total absence of any Republican co-sponsors. Republicans have often told me that my criticisms of the party are unfair, that not all Republicans in Congress are anti-gay, and that far right christianists aren’t in total control of the party. If they’re right, I’m sure there will soon be Republican co-sponsors, too.

The list of sponsors comes from Thomas, a service of the Library of Congress which is extremely useful for anyone needing information on what the US Congress is doing, status of legislation, etc. But it’s not as easy to use as it should be, and offers no way to link to most information. So from time to time I’ll update this list (you may want to bookmark this post). You’ll be able to tell how current the list is by looking at the date at the end of each list.

If your US Representative and Senators aren’t listed, it’s time to contact them and ask them to sign on. It’s easy to do, and the Immigration Equality website can help. Passage of this legislation is such a no-brainer that it should be much easier to achieve than it actually will be, but it could also be one issue where our support will make a big difference.

Related: I interviewed Julie Kruse of Immigration Equality for my podcast. That episode, AmeriNZ 210 - US Immigration Equality was posted April 2, 2010.

US House of Representatives
Sponsor: Sponsor: Rep Jerold Nadler [D-NY-8]. Co-sponsors: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1], Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5], Rep Baca, Joe [D-CA-43], Rep Baird, Brian [D-WA-3], Rep Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2], Rep Becerra, Xavier [D-CA-31] , Rep Berkley, Shelley [D-NV-1], Rep Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [D-NY-1], Rep Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1], Rep Capps, Lois [D-CA-23], Rep Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-8], Rep Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep Chu, Judy [D-CA-32], Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-11], Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1], Rep Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [D-VA-11], Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14], Rep Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7], Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7], Rep Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53], Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4], Rep DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10], Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-19], Rep Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14], Rep Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4], Rep Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5], Rep Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-17], Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-14], Rep Farr, Sam [D-CA-17], Rep Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2], Rep Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep Grayson, Alan [D-FL-8], Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-7], Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4], Rep Hall, John J. [D-NY-19], Rep Hare, Phil [D-IL-17], Rep Harman, Jane [D-CA-36], Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-23], Rep Heinrich, Martin [D-NM-1], Rep Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI-2], Rep Holt, Rush D. [D-NJ-12], Rep Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-15], Rep Inslee, Jay [D-WA-1], Rep Israel, Steve [D-NY-2], Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [D-IL-2], Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30], Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4], Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1], Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Rep Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2], Rep Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep Lee, Barbara [D-CA-9], Rep Levin, Sander M. [D-MI-12], Rep Lewis, John [D-GA-5], Rep Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-18], Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4], Rep McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7], Rep McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3], Rep McMahon, Michael E. [D-NY-13], Rep Maffei, Daniel B. [D-NY-25], Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-14], Rep Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7], Rep Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-5], Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [D-FL-17], Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-6], Rep Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2], Rep Miller, Brad [D-NC-13], Rep Miller, George [D-CA-7], Rep Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep Moran, James P. [D-VA-8], Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-38], Rep Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-2], Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC–observer only], Rep Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6], Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-8], Rep Pastor, Ed [D-AZ-4], Rep Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR – Resident Commissioner, no vote], Rep Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep Polis, Jared [D-CO-2], Rep Price, David E. [D-NC-4], Rep Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15], Rep Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37], Rep Rothman, Steven R. [D-NJ-9], Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-34], Rep Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep Ryan, Tim [D-OH-17], Rep Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-39], Rep Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3], Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-29], Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA-13], Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep Serrano, José E. [D-NY-16], Rep Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27], Rep Sires, Albio [D-NJ-13], Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-28], Rep Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep Speier, Jackie [D-CA-12], Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep Sutton, Betty [D-OH-13], Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [D-CA-10]*, Rep Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6], Rep Tonko, Paul D. [D-NY-21], Rep Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10], Rep Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-5], Rep Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-12], Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-20], Rep Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35], Rep Watson, Diane E. [D-CA-33], Rep Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-30], Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9], Rep Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep Wu, David [D-OR-1].. As at November 16, 2010—now 134 co-sponsors. Sources: Sponsors—Thomas; Party affiliations—Office of the Clerk, US House of Representatives. *Although still listed as a sponsor by Thomas, Ellen Tauscher resigned 26 June 2009 to take a position in the Obama Administration. My co-sponsor count, above, reflects the loss of Tauscher, even though Thomas still counts her.

United States Senate
Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]. Co-sponsors: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Sen Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Sen Burris, Roland [D-IL], Sen Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA], Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Sen Durbin, Richard [D-IL], Sen Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI], Sen Franken, Al [D-MN], Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen Harkin, Tom [D-IA], Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Sen Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Sen Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen Specter, Arlen [D-PA], Sen Udall, Mark [D-CO], Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen Wyden, Ron [D-OR]. As at September 23, 2010—now 25 co-sponsors. Sources: Sponsors—Thomas; Party affiliations—United States Senate.

This post last updated: 16 November 2010. With the end of the 111th Congress in December 2010, this bill is now over, so this post will not be updated again.