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Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-5535| House 
| Updated: 9/19/2025
Mark Takano

Mark Takano

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (10)
Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Derek Tran (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2025 seeks to provide comprehensive support and benefits for noncitizen members of the Armed Forces and veterans. It mandates a joint study by the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs on noncitizen veterans removed from the United States between 1990 and the bill's enactment. This study will detail the number of such individuals, their service records, grounds for removal, and their engagement with veterans' benefits. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a system for identifying noncitizen veterans and sharing this information across its components, ensuring veteran status is considered in removal proceedings. DHS must also notify a newly created **Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee** when removal proceedings are initiated against a veteran. This committee will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security on exercising discretion in removal cases involving service members, veterans, and their covered family members. The Advisory Committee will review cases and recommend actions such as terminating removal proceedings or granting deferred action, considering factors like military service merits and community contributions. However, a conviction for five driving while intoxicated offenses within 25 years would be a precluding factor. The bill generally prohibits the removal of eligible individuals until the Advisory Committee has issued its recommendation, with an exception for those inadmissible due to certain aggravated felony convictions. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a program to ensure eligible noncitizens can apply for naturalization early in their military service and receive necessary certifications promptly. It mandates training for Judge Advocate General Corps members and military recruiters on noncitizen citizenship processes and emergency immigration contacts. The bill also facilitates naturalization for individuals who have served honorably in contingency operations. The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to adjust the status of removed noncitizen veterans to lawful permanent residence, or admit them, provided they are not inadmissible. This includes the authority to waive certain grounds of inadmissibility in the public interest, with military service being a key consideration. Such adjustments are not subject to numerical limitations and create a presumption of good moral character, with a provision preventing removal of prima facie eligible applicants until a final decision on their status adjustment. Finally, the bill provides for the adjustment of status for certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizen service members or veterans. These relatives are deemed to have been inspected and admitted into the United States and are exempt from specific inadmissibility grounds if their sponsoring citizen served honorably for a minimum of two years.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-7946
Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4569
Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2023
Sep 19, 2025
Introduced in House
Sep 19, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-7946
    Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4569
    Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2023


  • September 19, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • September 19, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Immigration

Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-5535| House 
| Updated: 9/19/2025
The Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2025 seeks to provide comprehensive support and benefits for noncitizen members of the Armed Forces and veterans. It mandates a joint study by the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs on noncitizen veterans removed from the United States between 1990 and the bill's enactment. This study will detail the number of such individuals, their service records, grounds for removal, and their engagement with veterans' benefits. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a system for identifying noncitizen veterans and sharing this information across its components, ensuring veteran status is considered in removal proceedings. DHS must also notify a newly created **Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee** when removal proceedings are initiated against a veteran. This committee will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security on exercising discretion in removal cases involving service members, veterans, and their covered family members. The Advisory Committee will review cases and recommend actions such as terminating removal proceedings or granting deferred action, considering factors like military service merits and community contributions. However, a conviction for five driving while intoxicated offenses within 25 years would be a precluding factor. The bill generally prohibits the removal of eligible individuals until the Advisory Committee has issued its recommendation, with an exception for those inadmissible due to certain aggravated felony convictions. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a program to ensure eligible noncitizens can apply for naturalization early in their military service and receive necessary certifications promptly. It mandates training for Judge Advocate General Corps members and military recruiters on noncitizen citizenship processes and emergency immigration contacts. The bill also facilitates naturalization for individuals who have served honorably in contingency operations. The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to adjust the status of removed noncitizen veterans to lawful permanent residence, or admit them, provided they are not inadmissible. This includes the authority to waive certain grounds of inadmissibility in the public interest, with military service being a key consideration. Such adjustments are not subject to numerical limitations and create a presumption of good moral character, with a provision preventing removal of prima facie eligible applicants until a final decision on their status adjustment. Finally, the bill provides for the adjustment of status for certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizen service members or veterans. These relatives are deemed to have been inspected and admitted into the United States and are exempt from specific inadmissibility grounds if their sponsoring citizen served honorably for a minimum of two years.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-7946
Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4569
Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2023
Sep 19, 2025
Introduced in House
Sep 19, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-7946
    Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4569
    Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2023


  • September 19, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • September 19, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mark Takano

Mark Takano

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (10)
Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Derek Tran (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted