Protect American’s Congressional Representation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation to ensure the census only counts legal citizens for Congressional districts and the Electoral College map, which determines presidential elections. The current method of counting illegal immigrants for purposes of representation serves as a perverse incentive for open borders by boosting the political power of the states and municipalities that attract or incentivize illegal migrants.

“Democrats are exploiting the rights of U.S. citizens by encouraging illegal immigrants to enter the U.S., travel to sanctuary cities, and skew congressional redistricting for political gain,” said Risch. “It is well past time the Census Bureau include a citizenship question to keep American values on track and prioritize the voices of American citizens.”

“Playing an active role in our nation’s democratic process is a benefit of U.S. citizenship,” said Crapo. “I support the Equal Representation Act to guarantee the Electoral College is apportioned to reflect accurately the number of American citizens in each state.”

“It is unconscionable that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are counted toward Congressional district apportionment and our electoral map,” said Hagerty. “While people continue to flee Democrat-run cities, desperate Democrats are back-filling the mass exodus with illegal immigrants so that they do not lose their seats in Congress and maintain electoral votes for the Presidency and hence artificially boost their political power, which in turn dilutes the power of other Americans’ votes. I’m pleased to introduce this legislation that would require a citizenship question on the census and will ensure that only citizens are counted in Congressional redistricting.”

Currently, illegal immigrants are counted for congressional district apportionment and, therefore, Electoral College votes. For example, in a state like California, millions of illegal alien residents result in California taking several more congressional seats and Electoral College votes than the states’ population of citizens would justify. In other words, being a magnet for illegal immigration increases the power of a Californian’s vote relative to an individual in another state with less population boost from illegal immigration. This creates a perverse incentive encouraging illegal immigration and resettlement to increase political power.

This legislation will:

• Require the Census Bureau include a citizenship question on any future census to provide a greater understanding of the U.S. population and delineate between citizens and non-citizens for apportionment purposes;
• Prohibit non-citizens from being counted for purposes of congressional district and Electoral College apportionment; and
• Require the Census Bureau publicly report on certain demographic data. 

Joining Risch, Crapo, and Hagerty in cosponsoring the legislation are Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

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