Speech #960207928

Speaker. today I have introduced a bill to require adjustments in census population figures for aliens in the United States illegally so as to prevent distortions in the reapportionment of the House of Representatives. the legislative apportionment and districting of the States. and the allocation of funds under Federal assistance programs. The constitutional purpose of the census is to give fair and equal apportionment for fair and equal representation in Congress. By allowing illegal aliens to be counted along with properly documented citizens and foreign nationals. there would be great inaccuracies and we would lose all hope of an equitable apportionment. Including illegal aliens in total census figures would greatly change the demography of the country. States such as California. New York. and Texas. which have high populations of illegal aliens. would stand to gain new seats in Congress. at the expense of other States. Reapportionment to counter the artificial population shift could conceivably cause some States to lose a seat in Congress. In other words. the citizens of these States would lose their right to fair congressional representation due to the condoning of illegal aliens in the United States. Yesterday. a census official told my staff that his guess is that there are between 31/2 and 5 million illegal aliens in the United States. This equates to anywhere between four and six congressional seats. just to represent those in the country illegally. While it might be helpful to know how many illegal aliens there are in the United States. I doubt if we could get an accurate count. even with repeated assurances that the information they give would not be used to deport them. as some have proposed. I see no reason why such a guarantee should be given. The nature of their arrival or undocumented stay in this country precludes equal treatment under the law. They should be treated as anyone else who breaks the law. The key word here is "illegal." We cannot afford to shelter everyone who wants to immigrate to this country. We already permit resident visas to large numbers of people from other countries. There is no reason for us to offer protection to anyone who is not in the country legally. Permitting illegal aliens to be counted in the census is the first step toward the breakdown of the privileges of citizenship. and is definitely prejudicial toward foreign nationals who are properly documented. If we are not careful. the administration will be asking that illegal aliens be allowed to vote. receive welfare. and send their children to our schools. all without ever having to pay taxes. By including the millions of illegal aliens in total census figures. the citizens and legal residents of many States will receive less than their proportionate share of Federal funds. More than 100 Federal assistance programs are distributed completely or partially on population figures. These funds are intended to be given only to those people who are in this country legally. Unless we also plan to begin giving Federal aid to illegal aliens. I see no reason why they should be counted in the census. The Federal budget is already strapped. We are trying to cut Federal expenditures and at the same time provide as many necessary Government services for the populace as possible. Foreign nationals who reside legally in this country reap the benefit of Government programs. It is grossly inequitable to entertain the thought that illegal aliens could be a big step closer to the same privilege. The American people should not be asked to share privilege with people who have made no offer to shoulder the responsibilities of citizenship.