BILL NUMBER: AJR 15	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members De Leon, Ammiano, and John A. Perez
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Block,   Blumenfield,   Fuentes,  
Jones,   Ma,   Monning,   and Portantino
  ) 
    (   Coauthors:   Senators   Kehoe
  and Pavley   ) 

                        APRIL 20, 2009

   Relative to the Uniting American Families Act.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 15, as amended, De Leon. Uniting American Families Act.
   This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to pass,
and President Obama to sign, the Uniting American Families Act and
support the removal of legal barriers to immigration by permanent
same-sex partners.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Every American is entitled to equal protection under the
law; and
    WHEREAS, The principle of family unification is an
unassailable characteristic of our immigration system under which
legal permanent residents and United States citizens should be able
to sponsor their loved ones for immigration status; and 
   WHEREAS, Federal law does not currently recognize permanent
same-sex partners  for immigration purposes;  
as family members for immigration purposes, including same-sex
partners that are married or recognized as married in various states;
 and
   WHEREAS, This results in thousands of United States citizens being
forced into exile to be with foreign born partners, causing
unnecessary hardship, separation from family members and careers, and
loss of valuable skills and resources for our country; and
   WHEREAS, The Uniting American Families Act has been introduced in
Congress by Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Jerrold Nadler
 with 95 cosponsors in the United States House of Representatives
and 17 cosponsors in the United States Senate  to amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act and allow United States citizens and
legal permanent residents to sponsor same-sex partners for
immigration; and 
   WHEREAS, The promotion of family unity should be an integral part
of our nation's immigration policy, and all Americans should have the
opportunity to be with their loved ones; now, therefore, be it

    WHEREAS, The Uniting American Families Act defines "permanent
partner" as an individual 18 years of age or older who is in a
committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of
age or older in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment; is
financially interdependent with that other individual; is not married
to or in a permanent partnership with anyone other than that other
individual; is unable to contract with that other individual a
marriage cognizable under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and is
not a first-, second-, or third-degree blood relation of that other
individual; and 
    WHEREAS, Although there are a relatively low number of
binational same-sex partners, they are severely harmed by
discrimination and a lack of protection under current immigration
law; and 
    WHEREAS, Data compiled over two decades documents that there
has not been a single case of fraud perpetrated by a person or
partnership in any domestic partners benefit plan in the United
States since those benefit plans began in l982; and 
    WHEREAS, The United States is behind other democracies in
extending fair treatment in immigration policies to same-sex
partners, and the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 would bring
United States immigration law in line with 16 other countries that
currently recognize same-sex partnerships for immigration purposes:
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South
Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom; and 
    WHEREAS, The Uniting American Families Act is an appropriate
next step towards establishing equality in immigration standards for
same-sex partners; now, therefore, be it 
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature and the State of California
urge the United States Congress to pass and President Barack Obama
to sign the Uniting American Families Act at the earliest possible
date and support the removal of legal barriers to immigration by
permanent same-sex partners; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each
Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the
United States.