House Republicans will work to fulfill our commitment to a nation that’s safe and a government that’s accountable by voting on resolutions to condemn soft-on-crime and open-border policies in Washington, D.C. and fulfill our Constitutional oversight duties over the District of Columbia.
A resolution led by the Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee James Comer will condemn the District of Columbia’s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 for incentivizing lawlessness and devaluing the voice of American citizens by allowing illegal immigrants to vote in local elections.
The second resolution, led by Rep. Andrew Clyde, condemns the District of Columbia’s Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, which doubles down on the soft-on-crime policies that have worsened crime across the country. Even Washington D.C.’s Far Left Mayor, Muriel Bowser, vetoed the bill with its radical provisions saying, “this bill does not make us safer.” Last month, the D.C. Council voted to override her veto, and the legislation has been transmitted to Congress for review.
FULFILLING OUR COMMITMENT TO A GOVERNMENT THAT’S ACCOUNTABLE:
- Joint resolution “Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022,” H.J. Res. 24, expresses Congress’ disapproval and is led by Rep. James Comer (R-KY) to prevent this Act from going into effect.
- If passed by the House and Senate, and signed by the President, this joint resolution of disapproval would prevent the District of Columbia Council’s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-640), from going into effect.
- Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for a healthy republic. Yet the D.C. Council act would dilute the votes of American citizens in the District of Columbia.
- On November 21, 2022, the District government passed a bill that allows illegal immigrants and foreign citizens to vote in D.C. local elections. D.C. Act 24-640 disenfranchises American citizens and could have a ripple effect across other large U.S. cities.
- The only factor that differentiates American citizens from non-citizens is the right to vote. D.C. residents should be confident that their local government vote is not being diluted by lawful non-citizen residents or illegal immigrants.
- D.C. Act 24-640 makes no exception for foreign diplomats or agents voting in D.C. These individuals often have interests separate from, or opposed to, the interests of Americans.
- On October 17, 2022, the Washington Post editorial board opposed the bill. The board said, “Voting is a foundational right of citizenship. That’s why we oppose [the] bill…that would allow an estimated 50,000 noncitizen residents to cast ballots in local elections.”
- Like the Washington Post, Mayor Bowser expressed opposition by withholding her signature on D.C. Act 24-640—something she has done only a handful of times over the course of her tenure.
FULFILLING OUR COMMITMENT TO A NATION THAT’S SAFE:
- Joint Resolution “Disapproving the District of City Council Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022,” H.J. Res. 26 expressed Congress’ disapproval and is led by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) to prevent this Act from going into effect.
- The Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-789) eliminates mandatory minimums and reduces maximum sentences for criminals in D.C. during a time that the District cannot afford to be lenient on crime.
- It also provides the right to a jury trial from misdemeanors, forcing the court system to take on a new workload without any infrastructure to do so, depriving Americans of their right to a speedy trial for serious offenses.
- D.C. has been experiencing an explosion in violent crime between 2022 and 2023 and cannot allow these lenient progressive policies to be implemented.
- D.C. Crime by the Numbers as of Feb. 1, 2023 (unless stated otherwise, statistics from Metropolitan Police crime data website):
- As of February 1, 2023, homicides have increased 17% compared to February of 2022.
- D.C. is “on pace to have the most homicides since 1995.” – Former D.C. Council member Jack Evans in a Washington Post article published January 31, 2023.
- D.C. saw 203 homicides in 2022, compared to 88 in 2012.
- Sexual abuse is up 117% compared to February of 2022.
- Motor vehicle theft is up 76% compared to February of 2022.
- Total property crime is up 24% compared to February of 2022.
MAKE NO MISTAKE: Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities and exercise their Constitutional rights, and criminals deserve to be held accountable. For years, Democrats’ Far Left soft-on-crime and open-border policies have caused chaos in communities across the country. In this new Majority, House Republicans are fighting for a new direction—starting here in our nation’s Capital.
