and Still We Wait......The History of the Uniting American Families Act

In the year 2000, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act was introduced into the 106th Congress by Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY). It had 59 cosponsors. It died in House Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.........and still we wait.




It was re-introduced into the 107th, 108th and 109th Congress by Representative Nadler and again buried in subcommittee.....and still we wait




There are currently 19 countries with gay immigration policies that allow sponsorship of same-sex partners. These countries include:

Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Israel
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom


.........................and still we wait


In the 108th Congress, the Senate finally got involved and it was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and re-introduced into the House by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). By this time the bill in the House of Representatives had 129 cosponsors yet both bills died by being buried in sub committee.



The 109th and the 110th Congress saw huge increases in co-sponsorship for these bills, but again, it was buried in subcommittee...............and still we wait



During the 111th Congress, the bills came out on February 12th with 135 cosponsers in the House and 25 in the Senate. They both died in their respective Judiciary Committees.
Represenitive Michael Honda saw the huge injustice being done to US citizens, and tried again with HR 2709. This bill was introduced on June 4th and again died in committee.


.....................and still we wait

The bills have yet to be introduced to the 112th Congress.............and still we wait

Some wait in exile in different countries waiting for the day when they can return with their spouses to their home. Some wait separated from their loved ones unable to join them for different reasons. Some wait here in the United States illegally and live in fear that they will soon be forced apart.

We have been told that the borders need to be secured, yet, experts agree, that passing the Uniting American Families Act would help secure the borders.

We have been told that we need to deal with the economy first. Again experts agree that by passing the Uniting American Families Act, the economy would be helped and billions would flow into our economy.

http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/02/economic-case-for-inclusive-immigration.html

How can the great, freedom loving, justice for all United States of American allow this grave injustice to be done to it's citizens? How is this good for our country? How is this liberty and justice for all American citizens? It is not.

We have been waiting for years. The Congress has had plenty of time for debate. Let's bring this to the floor of Congress, let's get this passed. The time of waiting needs to end. There is no need to deny us the basic right of being able to be with the one we love because we are different.

Please, Pass the Uniting American Families Act!!

.................and still we wait