Nashville Standard

In a recent hearing, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), received confirmation from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that illegal aliens are included in the Census count. This count determines the number of Congressional seats and electoral votes allocated to each state.

The Department of Commerce conducts the Census every ten years. Hagerty's Equal Representation Act, which was opposed by every Senate Democrat, aims to ensure that only legal citizens are counted for Congressional districts and the Electoral College map that determines presidential elections. The House of Representatives passed the Equal Representation Act on May 8, 2024.

During the hearing, Hagerty expressed his concern about the current method of census and apportionment. He stated: “With respect to the census, I’m quite concerned that the census and apportionment today is conducted in a way that encourages illegal immigration.”

Hagerty further questioned Secretary Raimondo about whether illegal aliens are currently counted in the U.S. census. In response, Raimondo confirmed their inclusion. When asked if this population count is used for allocating congressional districts and electoral votes for each state, she again confirmed with a simple "Yes."

Referencing a recent video where Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09) stated her need for more illegal aliens in her congressional district for 'redistricting purposes', Hagerty queried if Clarke would indeed gain more power in her district relative to others without such an influx under current rules. To this question, Secretary Raimondo declined to comment on politics.

Hagerty responded by saying: “This is just math. If you have more illegal aliens in your district, you’re likely to have more power in your district. You’ll get greater representation by virtue of their arrival.”

He concluded by highlighting his introduced legislation - the Equal Representation Act - which he believes will eliminate this "perverse incentive". Despite opposition from Senate Democrats in March, Hagerty remains hopeful that common sense will prevail and the bill will see a different result.