House of Representatives Approves 'Electoral Integrity' Bill to Reinstate Citizenship Question in Census

Authored by Katabella Roberts via The Epoch Times

House Votes to Reinstate Citizenship Question in Census

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of a measure that seeks to reintroduce a citizenship question in the forthcoming U.S. census. This move is the latest in a series of efforts by conservatives to "safeguard America's democracy and electoral integrity." The bill, known as the "Equal Representation Act," was spearheaded by Rep. Chuck Edwards, (R-N.C.). Edwards spoke on Wednesday about the importance of ensuring that only American citizens are counted when allocating congressional seats and Electoral College votes. The bill was passed with a 206-202 vote along party lines.

Details of the Equal Representation Act

The bill instructs the Census Bureau to include a question in the decennial census asking respondents if they are U.S. citizens. It stipulates that only citizens should be taken into account when deciding the number of lawmakers each state should have in the House of Representatives, as well as the number of Electoral College votes each state should receive. The bill also establishes new reporting requirements for data collected from the citizenship question, stating that "the citizenship makeup of the U.S. population is a basic data point that should be available to U.S. policymakers, and the decennial census questionnaire is the best way to obtain such detailed information on citizenship status." The next decennial census is scheduled for 2030.

Representative Edwards' Remarks

In his remarks on Wednesday, Mr. Edwards stated that despite common sense dictating that only citizens should be counted for apportionment purposes, illegal aliens have recently been included in the final counts that determine the allocation of House seats and electoral votes for each state. He further added that since the illegal alien population is not evenly distributed throughout the country, American citizens in some states are losing representation in Congress to illegal aliens in other states.

Addressing the Undermining of American Democracy

Mr. Edwards referenced a 2019 study by the Center for Immigration Studies, which estimated that illegal immigrants and non-citizens, who have not naturalized and do not have the right to vote, influence the distribution of 26 seats in the House. The legislator stated that his bill would "finally address this alarming undermining of American democracy" while helping to ensure electoral integrity. He further added that enacting this legislation into law is crucial to ensuring that the American people receive fair representation in Congress and that they alone determine the outcomes of presidential elections.

Conservative Reactions to the Bill

Conservatives welcomed the bill on Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated after the vote that states and cities that violate federal immigration laws and maintain sanctuary policies should not be rewarded with increased Congressional representation. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) praised the passage of the Equal Representation Act, criticizing the Biden administration's "open border policies" which he said have "created the worst border crisis in American history, impacting every American." Mr. Comer stated that the new bill "adds a simple citizenship question to the decennial census questionnaire to ensure accurate information, and provides that only citizens are counted for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives and Electoral College votes."

Opposition to the Bill

However, the bill was quickly criticized by civil rights groups, Democrats, and the White House, with many questioning its legality under U.S. law. The Biden administration stated in a policy statement published on Monday that it "strongly opposes H.R. 7109 [the Equal Representation Act]" as it would "prevent the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau from performing its constitutionally mandated responsibility to count the number of persons in the United States in the decennial census." The administration also said that the measure would increase the cost of conducting the census and make it more difficult to obtain accurate data. This is not the first time Republicans have attempted to add the citizenship question to the census. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross tried to do so during the 2020 Census under President Donald Trump, but the attempt was blocked by the Supreme Court.

Closing Thoughts

This article sheds light on the ongoing debate about the inclusion of a citizenship question in the U.S. census. While some argue that it's necessary for electoral integrity, others see it as a violation of constitutional mandates. What's your take on this issue? Do you think the citizenship question should be included in the census? Share your thoughts with your friends and let's get the conversation going. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.