# 119-s-2923: PAAF Act

119-s-2923, PAAF Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2923
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2923
- Congress: 119
- Title: PAAF Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-19
- Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Automatic U.S. citizenship for many internationally adopted children.** The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act would expand Section 320(b) to let children adopted by U.S. citizens get citizenship automatically and set separate rules for children already in the United States versus those still abroad. - Families and adopted children: Children adopted by a U.S. citizen before age 18 who were physically present in the United States in the legal custody of the citizen after lawful admission and who never had U.S. citizenship would automatically become citizens if they were residing in the United States when the law takes effect. - Children living abroad: Children who meet the same adoption criteria but are living outside the United States would automatically become citizens when they enter the United States with lawful admission. Those seeking admission would not be subject to the usual inadmissibility rules in section 212(a) but must clear a criminal background check before a visa is issued. - Federal agencies and law enforcement: The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State would coordinate criminal background checks and work with relevant law enforcement agencies to resolve any unresolved criminal issues before visa issuance or admission.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (R-MS), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Automatic U.S. citizenship for adoptees: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would make many internationally adopted people automatic U.S. citizens. You would qualify if you were born abroad and adopted by a U.S. citizen parent before age 18 and meet the adopted-child rules in section 101(b)(1)(E), (F), or (G). If you were living in the U.S. on the day…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-315: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2923 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2923)

## Related
- [119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2296)
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4784)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-315: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-315)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2923 (as of 2026-08-11).