H.R. 4696House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929

Introduced July 23, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM UTC

This bill updates the Immigration and Nationality Act’s § 249 to make its benefits available to people who have lived in the United States for a long time, rather than only those who arrived before a specific 1972 cutoff. To qualify, an applicant must have entered the country at least seven years before filing. The change would affect long‑term residents seeking the immigration benefit provided under § 249.

Key Provisions

  • Changes the eligibility language in INA § 249 from a fixed date (entered before Jan. 1, 1972) to a broader category of “long‑term residents of the United States.”
  • Specifies that a person must have entered the United States at least seven years before the date they apply for the benefit under this section.
  • The amendment takes effect 60 days after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

July 23, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 23, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

July 23, 2025

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 4696 on the floor

1 Republican
Monica De La Cruz
Rep. Monica De La CruzR-TX-15 · Jul 9, 2026

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows: H.R. 7: Mr. Van Epps. H.R. 138: Ms. Norton, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, and Mr. Calvert. H.R. 491: Ms. Wilson of…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 23, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4696

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Ms. Lofgren (for herself, Mrs. Torres of California, Ms. Meng, Mr. Correa, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. García of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. DeGette, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Balint, Ms. Ross, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Omar, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Costa, Ms. Chu, Mr. Suozzi, and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to render available to certain long-term residents of the United States the benefit under that section.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929.

2.

Registry

(a)

In general

Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1259) is amended—

(1)

in the section header, by striking entered the United States prior to January 1, 1972 and inserting are long-term residents of the United States; and

(2)

by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a)

entered the United States at least 7 years before the application date;

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.