[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3486-H3487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NONCITIZENS VOTING IN D.C.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from

[[Page H3487]]

New York (Mr. Langworthy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying that the 
constitutional right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and 
it is a right solely afforded to our citizens.
  It is a basic concept, but the D.C. Council needs to be reminded of 
this. The District of Columbia holds a unique status as a Federal 
district, and the Constitution outlines that Congress is responsible 
for its governance.
  Without the proper oversight of Congress, it has spiraled into 
crisis. Crime rates are soaring. Our public schools have suffered 
significant setbacks due to the prolonged closures and numerous 
buildings that stand vacant, casting a shadow of neglect over our city.
  In the face of these issues, it is disheartening to witness the D.C. 
Council prioritize a bill that aims to grant voting rights to 
individuals who are not citizens of the United States of America.
  This effort undermines the very foundation of our democracy. Consider 
the potential consequences of such a law. Washington, D.C., is a hub 
for various foreign organizations and embassies, some of which hold 
interests that run very counter to those of the United States and are 
not invested in the long-term well-being of our country.
  By providing voting rights to noncitizens, we open the door for 
foreign agents and adversaries to influence local elections held in our 
Nation's capital. Imagine that, the D.C. Council is trying to extend 
the right to vote to employees of Vladimir Putin and to employees of 
President Xi and the CCP. This is a legitimate threat to the integrity 
of our democratic institutions.
  Granting noncitizens the right to vote in local elections sets a 
dangerous precedent, especially put into context with President Biden's 
illegal immigration crisis.
  Allowing this law to stand would open the flood gates to noncitizens 
to influence elections across the Nation. We have already seen this 
policy from Democrats in New York, and I was proud to lead the fight to 
successfully stop that in court. We must do the same with this policy 
in D.C.
  For those reasons, I was proud to support H.R. 192 in the House 
Oversight Committee hearing yesterday to reverse the D.C. Council's 
disastrous policy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in sending a clear 
message back to them that citizens' voices matter and that we are 
committed to safeguarding the integrity of our democratic process for 
generations to come.

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