PRIA Logo™
117-hr-3285117th Congress

21st Century President Act

Sponsored By: Representative Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Became Law

Summary

Updates federal law to use gender-neutral terms for a President's spouse. It amends 18 U.S.C. 879(b)(1)(A) by replacing the phrases "the wife of a former President during his lifetime, the widow of a former President until her death or remarriage" with "the spouse of a former President during a former President's lifetime, the surviving spouse of a former President until the surviving spouse's death or remarriage," changing only the wording to be non-gendered.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Gender-neutral terms for President's spouse

The law updates 18 U.S.C. 879 to use gender-neutral terms for a former President’s spouse. It replaces “wife” and “widow” with “spouse” and “surviving spouse.” It covers the same people as before and does not change benefits or penalties. It takes effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

WI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Taylor, Van [R-TX-3]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/18/2021

  • Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2021

  • Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 5/25/2021

  • Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 6/1/2021

  • Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/1/2021

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2021

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2021

  • Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2021

  • Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2021

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 6/16/2021

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/6/2021

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2021

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 9/22/2021

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 1/19/2022

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2022

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2022

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2022

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2022

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2022

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2022

  • Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2022

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/28/2022

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/7/2022

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/7/2022

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 3/18/2022

  • Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 4/4/2022

  • Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/10/2022

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2022

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2022

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation