United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 1573 (117th)
Access to Counsel Act of 2021
Introduced
3 March 2021
Last action
22 April 2021 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsors
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32], Marie Newman, Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
Subjects
Asylum, Immigration
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Access to Counsel Act of 2021 This bill provides various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States. Covered individuals include U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, aliens in possession of a visa, returning asylees, and refugees. The Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that a covered individual subject to secondary or deferred inspection has a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and certain related parties, such as a relative, within an hour of the start of the secondary inspection and as necessary during the inspection process. The counsel and related party shall be allowed to advocate on behalf of the covered individual, including by providing evidence and information to the examining immigration officer. A lawful permanent resident subject to secondary or deferred inspection may not abandon lawful permanent resident status until the individual has had a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel, unless the individual voluntarily and knowingly waives in writing this opportunity to seek counsel's advice.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
3 March 2021
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
3 March 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
3 March 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
14 April 2021
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.
Source: Committee
14 April 2021
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
16 April 2021
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8.
Source: Calendars
16 April 2021
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.
Source: Committee
16 April 2021
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.
Source: Committee
20 April 2021
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 330 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 51, H.R. 1573 and H.R. 1333. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The previous question on each measure is considered ordered without intervening motions except one hour of debate and a motion to recommit. H. Res. 316 and H. Con. Res. 30 are adopted.
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Vote
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2016)
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129).(text: CR H2016)
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Vote
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 215 (Roll no. 128).
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 330. (consideration: CR H2016-2025)
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Floor
The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Floor
Mr. Issa moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2024)
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Source: Floor
21 April 2021
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 51, H.R. 1573 and H.R. 1333. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The previous question on each measure is considered ordered without intervening motions except one hour of debate and a motion to recommit. H. Res. 316 and H. Con. Res. 30 are adopted.
Source: Floor
22 April 2021
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
21 April 2021 · passed · On Passage · Passed · Official source
Yes 217 · No 207 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 5
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Nay
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Yea
- Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7]Yea
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]Nay
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
21 April 2021 · failed · On Motion to Recommit · Failed · Official source
Yes 209 · No 215 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 5
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Yea
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Nay
- Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7]Nay
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]Yea
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 22 April 2021 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 21 April 2021 · Download file
- Reported in House · 16 April 2021 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 3 March 2021 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 22 April 2021
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 22 April 2021
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 21 April 2021
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 21 April 2021
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Passed House
summary · EN · 21 April 2021
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 16 April 2021
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 16 April 2021
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Reported to House
summary · EN · 16 April 2021
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 3 March 2021
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 3 March 2021
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 3 March 2021
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Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · D · Cosponsor
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32] · D · Cosponsor
- Marie Newman · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] · D · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 52 sponsors and actors.
Related records
- related to ← Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 51) to provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the Union; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1573) to clarify the rights of all persons who are held or detained at a port of entry or at any detention facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1333) to transfer and limit Executive Branch authority to suspend or restrict the entry of a class of aliens; and for other purposes.
- related to ← Access to Counsel Act of 2021
- amends ← Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 330, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary is considered adopted.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1573
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/117/hr/1573
- us · 117-hr-1573 · source updated 10 August 2026