Expresses support for "Equal Representation Act."
If enacted, the Equal Representation Act would significantly alter the current framework for congressional apportionment and the allocation of electoral votes in presidential elections. By focusing on the citizen population alone, the bill would ensure that political representation in Congress reflects only citizens, essentially limiting the influence of noncitizens in shaping electoral outcomes. This shift is designed to address perceived imbalances in representation that arise from current practices, wherein noncitizens, including undocumented individuals, are counted in the census.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 111 expresses support for H.R. 7109, known as the 'Equal Representation Act.' This bill aims to modify the way congressional representation is apportioned by requiring that such representation be based solely on the population of United States citizens, rather than including all individuals physically present in the U.S., including illegal immigrants. This legislation is positioned as a response to concerns about the impact of noncitizens on the census counts, which could politically disadvantage areas with fewer noncitizen residents.
The proposal has sparked considerable debate, with opponents arguing that it undermines the democratic principle of representation that includes all residents. Critics of the bill concern that excluding noncitizens from representation discussions may lead to further marginalization of immigrant communities and disregard for their contributions to society. Proponents assert that equal representation demands that only citizens should influence political representation, emphasizing that the influx of illegal immigrants under current administrations poses challenges to national security and resource allocation.