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Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022
4/17/2024, 11:45 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7946
If passed, this bill would designate the 11th day of November each year as "Veteran Service Recognition Day." This day would serve as a time for Americans to reflect on the contributions of veterans to our country and to express gratitude for their service.
Additionally, the bill calls for the President to issue a proclamation each year to recognize and honor veterans on this day. It also encourages schools and communities to hold events and activities to educate the public about the importance of veterans and their service. Overall, the Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022 aims to ensure that veterans are properly recognized and appreciated for their service to our country. It seeks to promote awareness and understanding of the sacrifices made by veterans and to foster a sense of gratitude and respect for their contributions.
Congressional Summary of HR 7946
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.
