4 More Freshmen Co-Sponsor Birthright Citizenship Act (Adams, Barletta, Benishek, & Brooks)
Reps. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.), Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), Dan Benishek (R-Mich.) and Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) have cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). All four Members are serving their first term in Congress and were identified as True Reformers during the mid-term elections. The bill currently has 56 cosponsors and amends current U.S. code to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a new born to receive automatic citizenship.
The Fourteenth Amendment extends citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. and "subject to the jurisdiction"; it also grants Congress the power to enforce and define the provisions of the amendment.
Since the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Congress has defined Birthright Citizenship through appropriate legislation, which for decades has granted citizenship to newborns with both parents illegal aliens, foreign tourists or temporary foreign workers and students. The Fourteenth Amendment gives Congress the right to define birthright citizenship differently.
The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 would add to the existing federal code a provision that requires at least one parent of a new born to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident in order for the new born to receive automatic citizenship.
The United States is one of two industrialized nations (Canada) to offer Birthright Citizenship.Rep. Adams represents Florida's 24th Congressional District. She was identified as a "True Reformer" during the mid-term elections and defeated incumbent Suzanne Kosmas who had a career C grade.
Rep. Barletta represents Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District. He was identified as a "True Reformer" during the mid-term elections and defeated incumbent Paul Kanjorski who had a career C- grade.
Rep. Benishek represents Michigan's 1st Congressional District. He was identified as a "True Reformer" during the mid-term elections and replaced incumbent Bart Stupak who retired at the end of the last Congress.
Rep. Brooks represents Alabama's 5th Congressional District. He was identified as a "True Reformer" during the mid-term elections and replaces Parker Griffith who he defeated in the primary.
For the full list of cosponsors, visit the Thomas section of the Library of Congress' website.