Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act

Bill: 117-hr-457
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2021-01-25
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Border security and unlawful immigration

Government information and archives

Immigration status and procedures
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act</strong></p> <p>This bill prohibits any executive agency from using the term <em>alien</em> to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national, or <i>i</i><em>llegal alien</em> to refer to such an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or lacks lawful immigration status. This prohibition does not apply when quoting certain texts. </p> <p>The bill (1) establishes a uniform definition for the term <em>foreign national </em>when used in acts of Congress and agencies; (2) replaces <em>alien</em> with <em>foreign national</em> in federal government documents, including statutes and regulations; and (3) replaces <em>illegal alien</em> with <em>undocumented foreign national</em> in such documents.</p> <p>Under the bill, a <i>foreign national</i> is any individual other than an individual (1) who is a citizen of the United States; or (2) though not a citizen of the United States, who owes permanent allegiance to the United States.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 457 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 25, 2021 Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself, Mr. Grijalva , Ms. Barragán , Mr. Soto , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. García of Illinois , Ms. Roybal-Allard , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Aguilar , Mrs. Trahan , Ms. Escobar , and Mr. Gallego ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To prohibit Executive agencies from using the derogatory term alien to refer to an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, to amend chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, to establish a uniform definition for the term foreign national , and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act . 2. Modernization of language referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States An Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code) shall not use the following terms in any proposed or final rule, regulation, interpretation, publication, other document, display, or sign issued by the agency after the date of the enactment of this Act, except to the extent that the term is used in quoting or reproducing text written by a source other than an officer (as defined in section 2104 of title 5, United States Code) or employee (as defined in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) of the agency: (1) The term alien , when used to refer to an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States. (2) The term illegal alien when used to refer to an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or who lacks a lawful immigration status in the United States. 3. Uniform definition (a) In general Chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 9. Definition of foreign national In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the term foreign national means any individual other than an individual— (1) who is a citizen of the United States; or (2) though not a citizen of the United States, who owes permanent allegiance to the United States. . (b) Technical amendment The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 9. Definition of foreign national . . 4. References (a) In general Any reference in any Federal statute, rule, regulation, Executive order, publication, or other document of the United States— (1) to the term alien , when used to refer to an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, is deemed to refer to the term foreign national ; and (2) to the term illegal alien , when used to refer to an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or who lacks a lawful immigration status in the United States, is deemed to refer to the term undocumented foreign national . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 421(5)(A)(ii)(II) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 658(5)(A)(ii)(II) ) is amended by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (2) Section 432(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 240(e) ) is amended by striking illegal alien and inserting undocumented foreign national . (3) Section 439 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1252c ) is amended in the section heading by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (4) Section 280(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1330(b)(3)(A)(iii) ) is amended by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (5) Section 286(r)(3)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1356(r)(3)(ii) ) is amended by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (6) Section 501 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 ( 8 U.S.C. 1365 ) is amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals ; (B) in the subsection heading for subsection (b), by striking Illegal aliens and inserting Undocumented foreign nationals ; and (C) by striking illegal alien each place such term appears and inserting undocumented foreign national . (7) Section 332 of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 ( 8 U.S.C. 1366 ) is amended by striking illegal aliens each place such term appears and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (8) Section 411(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1621(d) ) is amended in the subsection heading by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (9) Section 106(e) of the Public Works Employment Act of 1976 ( 42 U.S.C. 6705(e) ) is amended in the subsection heading by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals . (10) Section 40125(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking illegal aliens and inserting undocumented foreign nationals .