“And additionally in 2009, the House of Representatives passed a resolution (H. Res. 593, 111th Congress) by a vote of 378-0 which states, in part, “Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.”
Such passage carries the same legal weight as if the same group of 378 had passed a resolution to declare the 3rd Friday in June, National Pickle Day, or some nonsense similarly situated.
You are correct that a simple non-binding resolution passed by either chamber of Congress carries no legal weight. However that “whereas clause” in House Resolution 593 has carried POLITICAL weight in the House of Representatives. Consequently since the adoption of that resolution, the political effect is that there has never been a congressional hearing or even a speech in the House on Obama’s eligibility/ineligibility as a natural born citizen.
Senate Resolution 511 on John McCain’s Panama Canal Zone birth and his natural born citizenship had the same effect.
I expect similar resolutions will be passed concerning Senator Cruz’s birth in Canada and his status as a natural born citizenship.