H.J.Res. 172: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect United States citizenship.

House Joint Resolution 172 (H.J.Res. 172) is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution introduced by Representative Clay Fuller on May 4, 2026. The amendment seeks to redefine the criteria for birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. Specifically, it proposes that only children born in the United States to at least one U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, or individuals with lawful status serving in the Armed Forces would automatically receive U.S. citizenship at birth. This change would exclude children born to undocumented immigrants from obtaining citizenship by birthright. For the amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures within seven years of its submission.

Supporters of H.J.Res. 172 argue that the amendment is necessary to uphold the integrity of U.S. citizenship and to address concerns about illegal immigration. They contend that granting automatic citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants incentivizes unlawful entry into the country and places undue burdens on public resources. Proponents believe that by limiting birthright citizenship, the amendment would deter illegal immigration and ensure that citizenship is reserved for those with a legitimate connection to the United States.

Opponents of H.J.Res. 172 argue that the amendment undermines the principles of the 14th Amendment and the long-standing tradition of birthright citizenship in the United States. They express concern that the proposed change could lead to a class of stateless individuals born in the U.S. without any legal status, potentially violating international human rights norms. Critics also point out that the amendment could disproportionately affect immigrant communities and children who, through no fault of their own, would be denied the rights and privileges of citizenship. Additionally, they argue that the amendment could face significant legal challenges and may be difficult to enforce effectively.

The main potential conflict of interest lies in the overlap between the sponsor's donors and the bill's subject matter. The sponsor, Clay Fuller, has received $12,500,000 from the Retired industry, which is also affected by the bill's subject matter of Immigration. However, it should be noted that the Retired industry is a broad category and does not necessarily indicate a specific interest group. The lobbying activity in this bill's policy area is also worth noting, with several organizations lobbying in the area of immigration. However, none of these organizations appear to have a direct connection to the sponsor's donors. The total amount of money involved in the overlap and lobbying is relatively low compared to the total donations received by the sponsor, which reduces the risk level.

These industries are both affected by this bill and among the sponsor's top donors.

Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.

Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026

Top industries funding Clay Fuller, ranked by total contributions.

Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)