A sponsor or patron is a person, usually a legislator, who presents a bill or resolution to a legislature for consideration.
Those who support it are known as cosponsors (sometimes co-sponsors) or copatrons.
A sponsor in the United States Congress is the first member of the House or Senate to be listed among the potentially numerous lawmakers who introduce a bill for consideration.
[1] Committees are occasionally identified as sponsors of legislation as well.
[2] An unlimited number of cosponsors of a bill is permitted.