I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7298 

To provide for a pilot program to accord lawful permanent residence. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2024 

Mr. RYAN (for himself and Mr. JAMES) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To provide for a pilot program to accord lawful permanent 

residence. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Courage to Serve Act 

5 of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

8 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 

9 Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, 

10 shall establish a pilot program (hereinafter in this Act reVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:50 Feb 29, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7298.IH H7298

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1 ferred to as ‘‘the program’’) to provide for an expedited 

2 process for adjustment of status for certain aliens. 

3 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—An alien is eligible to participate 

4 in the program if the alien— 

5 (1) successfully completes a background inves6 tigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Inves7 tigation; 

8 (2) submits an application for participation in 

9 the program at such time, in such form, and includ10 ing such information as the Secretary may by rule 

11 require; and 

12 (3) as of the date of application to the pro13 gram— 

14 (A) has— 

15 (i) no lawful status under the immi16 gration laws; or 

17 (ii) temporary protected status under 

18 section 244 of the Immigration and Na19 tionality Act; 

20 (B) is not inadmissible to the United 

21 States; and 

22 (C) is otherwise eligible for enlistment in 

23 the Armed Forces. 

24 (c) EXPEDITED PROCESS.—In the case of a partici25 pant in the program, the following shall apply: 


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1 (1) Not later than 180 days after the date of 

2 enlistment in the Armed Forces, the participant 

3 shall submit an application for adjustment of status 

4 to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 

5 residency, at such time, in such form, and including 

6 such information as the Secretary may by rule re7 quire. 

8 (2) The Secretary shall provide technical assist9 ance with the preparation of an application referred 

10 to under paragraph (1). 

11 (3) If the alien completes 3 years of honorable 

12 service in the Armed Forces or if the alien completes 

13 1 year of honorable service in an active-duty status 

14 in the Armed Forces or if the alien completes 30- 

15 days of honorable service in a designated combat 

16 zone, the Secretary shall provide expedited consider17 ation of such an application. 

18 (d) NOT SUBJECT TO NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS.— 

19 An alien whose status is adjusted to that of an alien law20 fully admitted for permanent residency under this section 

21 is not subject to the worldwide levels or numerical limita22 tions of section 201(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 

23 Act. 

24 (e) STATUS DURING PARTICIPATION.—A participant 

25 in the program may not be detained under the immigraVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:44 Feb 29, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7298.IH H7298

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1 tion laws, and no removal proceeding may be commenced 

2 or continued against such participant. 

3 (f) EFFECT ON OTHER IMMIGRATION BENEFITS.— 

4 Nothing in this Act may be construed to provide that ap5 plication to or participation in the program precludes an 

6 alien from applying for asylum or parole. 

7 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

8 For purposes of this Act: 

9 (1) Terms used have the meanings given such 

10 terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nation11 ality Act. 

12 (2) The term ‘‘Armed Forces’’ means the 

13 Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Air 

14 Force, including the reserve components. 

15 (3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

16 of Homeland Security. 

Æ 


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