Same-sex couples plan to testify at a hearing for the Uniting American Families Act, a bill amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant citizenship to same-sex immigrant partners.

As of 2000, a citizen and non-permanent resident comprised an estimated 40,000 lesbian and gay couples.

The bill would mark significant progress in the equal-rights movement on a federal level.
This is the sixth time the bill has been brought before Congress since 2000, when it was originally introduced as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act.