HB961 establishes the Commission on New Americans within the state government. This commission is tasked with studying and periodically reporting on the contributions of "new Americans"—individuals who are not U.S. citizens or have recently become naturalized citizens—and assessing the availability of government services tailored to their needs.
The Maryland State House of Representatives passed HB961 on March 18, 2024 by a vote of 100 to 39. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the creation of a government commission specifically focused on "new Americans" undermines the fundamental principle that all U.S. Citizens are equal under the law as stated in the Declaration of Independence: “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” This measure contradicts the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Furthermore, studying the contributions of illegal migrants is unnecessary, as they violate the law by being here. Lastly, the government should not seek ways to expand unconstitutional, socialist programs that promote reliance on government and taxpayer funding.
