# 119-hr-9457: Diversity Visa Protection and Modernization Act

119-hr-9457, Diversity Visa Protection and Modernization Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY); status introduced (as of 2026-07-09).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9457
- As of: 2026-07-09
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9457
- Congress: 119
- Title: Diversity Visa Protection and Modernization Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-25
- Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 29
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-09

## Summary

**Limits on program-wide suspensions of the Diversity Visa Program**. This bill would bar broad or indefinite pauses and require targeted, transparent actions plus congressional notice when visa processing is limited. - Selectees and applicants: Would be protected from losing eligibility during a temporary suspension up to 60 days and would see automatic resumption after that period. - Executive branch agencies: Could still impose country-specific or regional suspensions and use case-by-case delays or enhanced screening, but must notify Congress and publish notice in the Federal Register, with classified annexes allowed. - Congress and oversight: Sets a 7-day pre-notice rule for country-specific actions and defines “appropriate congressional committees” to include the House and Senate committees on judiciary and on foreign affairs, increasing transparency and oversight.

## Cosponsors (29)

- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2026-07-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on program-wide Diversity pauses: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would bar the Secretary from suspending, pausing, or stopping the entire Diversity Visa program except in narrow cases listed in the bill. If enacted, allowed exceptions include country or regional pauses with congressional notice, case-by-case screening, and a temporary pause…
- Case-by-case Diversity Visa screening: cost, low. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary delay, deny, or order extra screening for individual Diversity Visa applicants. If enacted, this authority would apply only when there are individualized security, criminal, or eligibility concerns. If enacted, affected applicants could face longer proce…
- Country or regional Diversity Visa pauses: cost, low. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary suspend or limit Diversity Visa issuance for a specific country or region. If enacted, the agency must notify Congress at least 7 days before the pause and publish the notice in the Federal Register, except for classified annexes. If enacted, applicants…
- Short Diversity Visa pause and protection: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary pause Diversity Visa issuance for up to 60 days. If enacted, the pause would automatically end 60 days after it starts. If enacted, people who already have an issued Diversity Visa would not lose eligibility because of that temporary pause. If enacted, a…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9457 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9457)

## Related
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9457 (as of 2026-07-09).