The House passed two bills on Tuesday to assert congressional control over the District of Columbia’s sentencing policies, the first portion of a slate of legislation coming to a vote this week aimed at overhauling the criminal justice system of Washington, D.C.
The first bill is the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act, or DC CRIMES Act, which would prohibit the District’s local officials from changing sentencing laws and restrict the ability of local judges to be more lenient with younger criminals.
And the second bill, H.R. 5140, lowers the age for which youth offenders can be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses, changing the threshold to 14 years of age.
The DC CRIMES Act passed 240-179, while H.R. 5140 passed 225-203.
Republicans are set to vote on several other bills relating to D.C. crime later this week as they carry on President Trump’s crusade against crime in the nation’s capital after his 30-day takeover of the city’s police force expired.
The DC CRIMES Act amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to prohibit the D.C. Council from enacting any changes to sentencing laws, as well as changing a provision that allows for lighter sentences for some convicts younger than 25 — lowering the threshold to 18.
It also removes a provision that allows youth offenders to be sentenced below mandatory minimums, and requires the attorney general to publish a website on juvenile crime statistics.
“The Trump administration’s efforts have shown that lawlessness is a choice,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), lead sponsor of the DC CRIMES Act, said in debate on the House floor. “It is time for Congress to step up, adhere to our constitutional duty, and firmly address crime in the nation’s capital.”
Democrats argued that giving Congress more authority over the city would not lead to a reduction in crime.
“People are rightly concerned about crime in D.C. and back home in their communities, and Democrats of course want safe streets. But we believe in investing in solutions that make people safer, not political stunts or short-term gimmicks or cheap tough talk,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said in debate against the bill on the House floor.
“We know what works. Supporting local police departments, investing in community-based partnerships, and creating economic opportunity to drive down shootings, homicides and burglaries. Getting guns out of the hands of violent criminals keeps us all safer.”
District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), meanwhile, spoke against the bills by advocating for self-government on the local level.
“The over 700,000 D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and brown, are capable and worthy of governing themselves,” Norton said on the House floor.
Later this week, the House is set to vote on the District of Columbia Policing Protection Act, which would allow D.C. police greater authority to allow vehicular pursuit of a suspect fleeing in a motor vehicle.
It will also vote on the District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act, which would eliminate the role the local government has in selecting its local judges and give the president the sole authority.
National Guard troops remain deployed in Washington, D.C., after Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed an executive order that authorized coordination between local police and federal forces, and the Army extended authorization of National Guard troops in the city through Nov. 30. Bowser has said her order provides a path to exit Trump’s emergency, rather than extend it.
