The GOP move is designed to force the Library of Congress to retain the term "illegal alien" for cataloging and search purposes, reversing the library's plan to replace "illegal alien" with less prejudicial terms like "noncitizens" or "unauthorised immigration."
Appropriations Committee Democrats tried to defend the library's move, which came in response to a petition from the American Library Association, to change the immigration-related search terms. They lost by a 25-24 vote.