Providing for Consideration of H.R. Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Equal Representation Act; Providing for Consideration of H.J. Res. Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under the Rule Submitted By the Securities and Exchange Commission Relating to ``Staff Accounting Bulletin No. and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Indiana for yielding the time.

With the ongoing migrant crisis in New York State, my district has sadly been on the front lines of Democratic policies that reward those who have broken our laws to come into this country illegally.

With thousands of illegal immigrants now residing in hotels, shelters, and public facilities across my State, my constituents and other New Yorkers have seen what happens when their hard-earned tax dollars are spent on programs that enable a completely avoidable crisis. It is as if Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams put up a neon sign saying: Come on in. New York is open for business.

Illegal immigrants know if they cross the border and ask to be sent to New York, they will be fed, clothed, housed, and even given a debit card. We are looking at half a million illegals in New York alone and nearly 10 million who have crossed our southern border to be released into the interior of the United States.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want these noncitizens to be represented here in Congress. It is unconstitutional and completely ridiculous. It is a threat to the very sovereignty of the United States of America.

Democrats want to make citizenship mean nothing. A nation without borders is not a nation, especially when you allow anyone from any country to vote in our elections and be represented in our government.

Now, thankfully, our courts have stopped reckless attempts to allow noncitizens to vote, but we need to ensure that Congress is representative of our citizens and our citizens alone. That is what our Nation's Founders intended, and it is the only way to uphold the principles of our democracy.

Allowing representation for noncitizens is also a slap in the face to every immigrant who went through the proper channels and came here legally, the right way, to search for the American Dream. They respect our laws, have sworn allegiance to the United States of America, and deserve to be represented fairly here in Washington.

I am a proud cosponsor of the Equal Representation Act before us today because it is time that we stop rewarding States like my home State of New York and California for their destructive sanctuary policies.

With the absence of a citizenship requirement for apportionment in congressional districts, we have allowed a perverse incentive to take hold where Democrat-run sanctuary States are rewarded with greater representation in the Halls of Congress and greater sway in the electoral college simply by counting millions of illegal aliens who have broken our laws and taken advantage of these States' destructive policies. It sends the wrong message to the world about the value of citizenship and our respect for our own laws and own government.

Mr. Speaker, we are effectively allowing those who are not U.S. citizens to have a significant say in the future of U.S. elections. This is a wrong that, for the sake of the American people and our own sovereignty as a nation, must be corrected.

It is simple. Allowing noncitizens to vote and be represented in Congress dilutes the voice of the American citizen and opens the door to manipulation and exploitation of our electoral system.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Equal Representation Act and look forward to its consideration on the floor.

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