Equal Representation Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I will make reference to a couple documents before I discuss the bill.
First of all, our Pledge of Allegiance, which we say every day, we pledge allegiance to the Republic for which we stand, right, the flag and the Republic for which we stand.
Benjamin Franklin, after our Constitution was ratified, he talked about giving us a Republic if we can keep it, and I think people should analyze those two little quotes and wonder why there were references to the Republic in both of them. In any event, it kind of bugs me when people around here don't understand that.
Now, back to the bill at hand. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for introducing this bill.
I think it is fairly obvious that when we take a Census, there are certain questions you expect to appear on the Census, right?
One thing they want to know is if you are a permanent citizen here or whether you are not a citizen. There is a difference between the two.
There is a reason why we swear certain people in as citizens. There is a reason why we treat citizens differently than other people.
I think it is absolutely bizarre that to this point, we have been sending out Census forms and not asking the first question that you would figure would pop into your head: Are you a citizen? It is kind of embarrassing it has not happened up to this point.
We have another problem in that there are some States declaring themselves sanctuary States or some sanctuary cities in which they seem to be encouraging people to come here who really shouldn't be in the country at all under current law.
In any event, I think this is a great bill. First of all, we should, in apportioning congressional seats, take into account people who are citizens, not people who are noncitizens, many of which I assume are going to return to the country they came from.
Secondly, we expect on the form--the first thing I look at, they put things on, their race. Sometimes in the surveys they put on, do you own a TV or that sort of thing.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona again for giving me 2 minutes.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source