Reps. Hoogendyk, Booher, Brandenburg, Caswell, Cushingberry, Drolet, Garfield, Gosselin, Hildenbrand, Jones, Kooiman, Meyer, Mortimer, Nitz, Pastor, Robertson, Shaffer, Stakoe, Steil and Vander Veen offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 97.

A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to adopt and present to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution that would provide that only citizens may be counted for purposes of determining congressional representation among the states.

            Whereas, One of the cornerstones of our democratic republic is the decennial census, which is the basis for congressional representation and the apportionment process.  The data gathered through the census is used to determine how the 435 members of the United States House of Representatives are divided among the states; and

            Whereas, With growing numbers of illegal immigrants concentrated in a small number of states, especially California, states with few illegal immigrants suffer a commensurate reduction in the number of their members of the United States House of Representatives.  This is true for Michigan, which has experienced a steady decline in congressional representation over the past few decades.  Projections for the next reapportionment, after the 2010 census, include the loss of more seats for Michigan and other states with few illegal immigrants; and

            Whereas, In 2000, an estimated 5.3 million noncitizens in California were counted by the Census Bureau. In one Californian district, more than 260,000 noncitizens, or 43 percent of the district’s population, were tabulated, a ratio of almost four noncitizens for every voter. As a result, it took fewer than 35,000 votes to win the district compared to almost 100,000 votes to win a typical Congressional race in Michigan. If only legal citizens were counted, California would have been allocated six fewer seats in the House of Representatives. In addition, New York, Texas, and Florida,

which along with California account for more than 50 percent of all noncitizens residing in the United States, would have been allocated one fewer Congressional seat apiece if only citizens were calculated; and

            Whereas, While estimates of actual illegal aliens in our country are higher, the 2000 federal census found 7 million illegal aliens.  It seems wrong for illegal aliens to have as profound an impact on our political environment as they presently do.  While immigration is a very complex issue that must be addressed, it seems clear that including illegal immigrants in the calculation of congressional representation is wrong; and

            Whereas, A measure has been introduced in the United States House of Representatives to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution that would provide that only citizens may be counted for purposes of apportioning congressional representation among the states. This legislation, H.J.R. 53, is long overdue; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to adopt and present to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution that would provide that only citizens may be counted for purposes of determining congressional representation among the states; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.