# 117-hr-4137: Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021

117-hr-4137, Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4137
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-4137
- Congress: 117
- Title: Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
- Introduced: 2021-06-24
- Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ)
- Cosponsors: 38
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021 This bill provides permanent resident status and citizenship eligibility to certain noncitizen veterans and addresses related issues. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must establish a program that allows (1) eligible noncitizen veterans outside of the United States to be admitted as permanent residents, and (2) eligible noncitizen veterans in the United States to obtain permanent resident status.  Generally, an eligible noncitizen veteran under this bill is one who was not removed from the United States for certain crimes related to violence or national security. DHS may waive these eligibility requirements for humanitarian, family unity, public interest, or exceptional military service reasons. A noncitizen veteran who obtains permanent resident status under this bill shall be eligible for (1) naturalization through service in the Armed Forces, and (2) military and veterans benefits as if they had not been removed (or ordered removed) from the United States. For a noncitizen veteran in removal proceedings or subject to a final removal order, the Department of Justice (DOJ) must determine whether the veteran is eligible for permanent resident status under this bill. If the veteran is eligible, DOJ must adjust the veteran's status. The bill also protects noncitizen veterans or service members from being removed from the United States unless the veteran has been convicted of a crime of violence.

## Cosponsors (38)

- Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large] (D-GU), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1] (D-AZ), 2021-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] (D-CA), 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17] (D-NY), 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2022-01-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2022-01-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2022-01-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2022-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2022-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kahele, Kaiali'i [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2022-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29] (D-CA), 2022-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2022-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2022-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2022-08-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2022-08-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2022-08-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2022-08-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2022-12-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hr-5723: Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust
- 117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Crown Road Southwest in Atlanta, Georgia, as the "John R. Lewis Post Office Build…
- 117-hr-3488: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act
- 117-hr-2252: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021
- 117-hr-1948: VA Employee Fairness Act of 2021

## Sources
- [117-hr-4137 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4137)

## Related
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [117-hr-5723: Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5723)
- [117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 C…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5577)
- [117-hr-3488: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3488)
- [117-hr-2252: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2252)
- [117-hr-1948: VA Employee Fairness Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1948)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4137 (as of 2025-11-18).