Child Status Protection Act
Latest action · Aug 6, 2002 Became Public Law No: 107-208.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 26, 2001
- Passed HouseJun 6, 2001
- Passed SenateJun 13, 2002
- To the PresidentJul 30, 2002
- Became lawAug 6, 2002Public Law 107-208
Summary
Makes similar determinations in the case of: (1) permanent resident parents who subsequently naturalize after having filed family-sponsored immigration petitions for a son or daughter (age determination at time of parents' naturalization); or (2) citizen parents who filed family-sponsored immigration petitions for a married son or daughter and such son or daughter later divorces (age determination at time of divorce).
(Sec. 3) States that with respect to an unmarried son or daughter seeking status as family-sponsored, employment-based, or diversity "child" (unmarried, under 21 years old) immigrant: (1) such an alien's age will be determined using the age of the alien on the date on which an immigrant visa becomes available reduced by the number of days in which the petition was pending; and (2) if the alien's age is determined to be 21 years or older the original (pre-21 years old) priority date shall be retained.
(Sec. 4) States that a son or daughter who was unmarried and under 21 years old when the parent applied for asylee or refugee status shall retain such "child" classification during the pendency of the asylee or refugee application.
(Sec. 6) Provides that the family-sponsored petition of an unmarried alien son or daughter whose permanent resident alien parent subsequently becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen shall be converted to a petition for an unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen, unless the son or daughter elects otherwise. States that any petition priority date assigned prior to such naturalization may be maintained regardless of whether or not the petition is converted.
(Sec. 7) States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or deny specified benefits for alien children.
(Sec. 8) States that the amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon enactment of this Act and shall apply to an alien beneficiary of: (1) an immigrant petition approved but not with a final determination prior to such date; (2) a petition pending on or after such date; or (3) an application pending before the Department of Justice or Department of State on or after such date.
Recorded votes 1
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 152 | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended | Passed416–0 | Jun 6, 2001 |
Cosponsors 1
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Mar 26, 2001.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-TX | Sheila Jackson Lee | Original | Mar 26, 2001 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred Mar 26, 2001Markup Apr 4, 2001Reported Apr 20, 2001 |
| Senate | Judiciary Committee | Referred Jun 7, 2001Markup May 16, 2002Reported May 16, 2002 |
Actions 29
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Aug 6, 2002Signed by President.
- Aug 6, 2002Became Public Law No: 107-208.
- Jul 30, 2002Presented to President.
- Jul 22, 2002Mr. Sensenbrenner moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H4989-4992)
- Jul 22, 2002DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1209.
- Jul 22, 2002Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4989-4990)
- Jul 22, 2002Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jun 17, 2002Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jun 13, 2002Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5560-5561; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S5560)
- Jun 13, 2002The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
- Jun 13, 2002Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- May 16, 2002Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- May 16, 2002Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- May 16, 2002Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 377.
- Jun 7, 2001Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Jun 6, 2001Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jun 6, 2001Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2901-2903)
- Jun 6, 2001DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1209.
- Jun 6, 2001At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- Jun 6, 2001Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2907-2908)
- Jun 6, 2001Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 152). (text: CR H2901)
- Jun 6, 2001Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Apr 20, 2001Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-45. Filed late, pursuant to previous special order.
- Apr 20, 2001Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 28.
- Apr 4, 2001Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Apr 4, 2001Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- Apr 3, 2001Mr. Sensenbrenner asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Judiciary have until 6:00 p.m. on April 20 to file a report on H.R. 1209. Agreed to without objection.
- Mar 26, 2001Introduced in House
- Mar 26, 2001Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In the Congressional Record 5
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extensions | Debate and remarks E1330 | Patsy T. Mink D-HI | Jul 24, 2002 |
| House | Debate and remarks H4989–H4992Amendments H4989 | F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. R-WI, George W. Gekas R-PA, Sheila Jackson Lee D-TX | Jul 22, 2002 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S5557, S5560Text printed S5560Amendments S5557, S5560, S5561 | Dianne Feinstein D-CA, Harry Reid D-NV | Jun 13, 2002 |
| Extensions | Debate and remarks E1095 | Patsy T. Mink D-HI | Jun 13, 2001 |
| House | Debate and remarks H2901–H2903Text printed H2901Recorded votes H2907enact | F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. R-WI, George W. Gekas R-PA, Lamar Smith R-TX, Sheila Jackson Lee D-TX | Jun 6, 2001 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Congressional Budget Office cost estimates 6
- Jul 30, 2002H.R. 1209, Child Status Protection Act<p>Pay-as-you-go estimate for the bill as cleared by the Congress on July 22, 2002</p>
- Jul 30, 2002H.R. 1209, Child Status Protection ActPay-as-you-go estimate for the bill as cleared by the Congress on July 22, 2002
- Jun 6, 2002H.R. 1209, Child Status Protection Act<p>Cost estimate for the bill as reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on May 16, 2002</p>
- Jun 6, 2002H.R. 1209, Child Status Protection ActCost estimate for the bill as reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on May 16, 2002
- Apr 16, 2001H.R. 1209, Child Status Protection Act of 2001<p>Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on April 4, 2001</p>
- Apr 16, 2001H.R. 1209, Child Status Protection Act of 2001Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on April 4, 2001
Printed hearings 1
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Hrg. 107-722 | MISCELLANEOUS NATIONAL PARKS BILLS64 pages | Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Jun 12, 2002 |
CRS reports 3
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 3
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R48802 | Development of the U.S. Asylum System: In Brief | Report | Jan 20, 2026 |
| R47061 | Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 117th Congress | Report | Oct 21, 2022 |
| R43145 | U.S. Family-Based Immigration Policy | Report | Feb 9, 2018 |
Amendments 1
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA 3846 | To make technical corrections. | Dianne Feinstein D-CA | Amendment SA 3846 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. |
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 672 | Child Status Protection Act | Related bill | Jun 17, 2002 |
Titles 7
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to determine whether an alien is a child, for purposes of classification as an immediate relative, based on the age of the alien on the date the classification petition with respect to the alien is filed, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Child Status Protection Act of 2001
- Short Titles as Reported to House
- Child Status Protection Act of 2001
- Short Titles as Reported to Senate
- Child Status Protection Act
- Short Titles as Passed House
- Child Status Protection Act of 2001
- Short Titles as Passed Senate
- Child Status Protection Act
- Short Titles as Enacted
- Child Status Protection Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.
Text 6
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- —Enrolled Bill
- Jul 24, 2002Engrossed Amendment Senate
- May 16, 2002Reported to Senate
- Jun 7, 2001Referred in Senate
- Apr 20, 2001Reported in House
- Mar 26, 2001Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
