3.0.0
2697
2025-12-05T09:12:05Z
2025-12-05T09:12:05Z
House
H
HR
2023-04-18
118
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2697
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mrs. TORRES of California:H.R. 2697.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:According to Article 1: Section 8: Clause 18: of the UnitedStates Constitution, seen below, this bill falls within theConstitutional Authority of the United States Congress.Article 1: Section 8: Clause 18: To make all Laws whichshall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution theforegoing Powers and all other Powers vested by thisConstitution inThe single subject of this legislation is:Establishes a right to legal representation.[Page H1847]
- hsju00
Judiciary Committee
House
Standing
  - Referred To
2023-04-18T14:03:45Z

- Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023
118
1187
S
2023-04-18
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  - Related bill
CRS
- 2023-04-18
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
IntroReferral
H11100
2
House floor actions
  - hsju00
Judiciary Committee
- 2023-04-18
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
Intro-H
9
Library of Congress
- 2023-04-18
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
1000
9
Library of Congress
- T000474
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Norma
Torres
D
CA
J.
35
N
- M001188
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Grace
Meng
D
NY
6
2023-04-18
True
- J000298
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Pramila
Jayapal
D
WA
7
2023-04-18
True
- M000312
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
JAMES
MCGOVERN
D
MA
P.
2
2023-04-18
True
- B001300
Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Nanette
Barragan
D
CA
Diaz
44
2023-04-18
True
- L000551
Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12]
BARBARA
LEE
D
CA
12
2023-04-18
True
- S001145
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
JANICE
SCHAKOWSKY
D
IL
D.
9
2023-04-18
True
- J000305
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
Sara
Jacobs
D
CA
51
2023-04-18
True
- E000297
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Adriano
Espaillat
D
NY
13
2023-04-18
True
- N000179
Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31]
GRACE
NAPOLITANO
D
CA
F.
31
2023-04-18
True
- H001068
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Jared
Huffman
D
CA
2
2023-04-18
True
- C001131
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
Greg
Casar
D
TX
35
2023-04-18
True
- V000081
Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NYDIA
VELAZQUEZ
D
NY
M.
7
2023-04-18
True
- N000147
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
ELEANOR
NORTON
D
DC
HOLMES
0
2023-04-18
True
- G000586
Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
Jesus
Garcia
D
IL
G.
4
2023-04-18
True
- C001067
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Yvette
Clarke
D
NY
D.
9
2023-04-18
True
- T000487
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
Jill
Tokuda
D
HI
N.
2
2023-04-18
True
- J000288
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]
Henry
Johnson
D
GA
C. "Hank"
4
2023-04-18
True
- C001097
Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
Tony
Cárdenas
D
CA
29
2023-04-18
True
- S001226
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
Andrea
Salinas
D
OR
6
2023-04-18
True
- G000551
Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
Raúl
Grijalva
D
AZ
M.
7
2023-04-18
True
- C001080
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Judy
Chu
D
CA
28
2023-05-23
False
- O000173
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Ilhan
Omar
D
MN
5
2023-05-23
False
- R000576
Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2]
C. A.
Ruppersberger
D
MD
Dutch
2
2023-05-23
False
- Q000023
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
Mike
Quigley
D
IL
5
2023-06-15
False
- P000607
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Mark
Pocan
D
WI
2
2023-08-25
False
- G000599
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Daniel
Goldman
D
NY
S.
10
2023-08-25
False
- G000598
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
Robert
Garcia
D
CA
42
2023-08-25
False
- S001205
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Mary
Scanlon
D
PA
Gay
5
2023-08-25
False
- V000130
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
Juan
Vargas
D
CA
52
2023-09-12
False
- T000481
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
Rashida
Tlaib
D
MI
12
2023-09-12
False
- G000587
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
Sylvia
Garcia
D
TX
R.
29
2023-11-02
False
- R000617
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
Delia
Ramirez
D
IL
C.
3
2023-11-02
False
- S001156
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
Linda
Sánchez
D
CA
T.
38
2023-11-13
False
- L000602
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
Summer
Lee
D
PA
L.
12
2024-05-24
False
- J000032
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Sheila
Jackson Lee
D
TX
18
2024-06-04
False
- B001318
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Becca
Balint
D
VT
0
2024-06-13
False
- D000197
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
Diana
DeGette
D
CO
1
2024-06-25
False
- C001072
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
André
Carson
D
IN
7
2024-11-13
False
Immigration
Immigration
2023-04-24T23:00:19Z
00
2023-04-18
Introduced in House
2023-12-27T15:31:00Z
Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023
This bill establishes a right to legal representation in certain immigration proceedings (e.g., removal and immigration bond hearings) at the government's expense for individuals who cannot afford representation. The bill also establishes various entities to facilitate such legal representation.
Currently, individuals in these immigration proceedings may be represented by counsel but not at government expense.
The bill addresses various issues related to such legal representation, including (1) the scope of the representation, (2) criteria for determining whether the individual is financially unable to afford representation, and (3) requirements relating to allowing the individual to meet with their lawyer and receiving relevant documents. Immigration proceedings may not commence until counsel has been appointed.
The bill also establishes the Office of Immigration Representation to ensure that qualified individuals who cannot afford legal representation receive the representation as required by this bill. The office's duties shall include establishing (1) administrative regions throughout the United States, and (2) a local immigration representation board for each region.
The local boards must, subject to the office's approval, develop and implement plans for providing legal representation under this bill. To provide such legal representation, the local boards may (1) establish one or more immigrant public defender organizations, (2) contract with existing community defender organizations, and (3) establish a panel attorney system.
The bill establishes minimum funding requirements for the office.

Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023
- Display Title
45

Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023
2024-06-11T16:14:10Z
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
101

Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023
2024-05-24T13:40:55Z
Introduced in House
IH
- Official Title as Introduced
6

To establish the right to counsel, at Government expense for those who cannot afford counsel, for people facing removal.
2024-03-18T20:38:11Z
Introduced in House
IH
- Introduced in House
2023-04-18T04:00:00Z
  - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr2697ih/xml/BILLS-118hr2697ih.xml
2023-04-18
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
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