House passes two DC crime bills focused on juvenile crime as part of bid to bolster Trump’s federal crackdown
By Veronica Stracqualursi and Ellis Kim, CNN
(CNN) — The House has passed two bills that Republicans say would combat crime in Washington, DC, but that also limit the city’s self-governance as the GOP seeks to bolster President Donald Trump’s federal crackdown.
The bills passed on Tuesday are among more than a dozen being considered by Republicans in the wake of Trump’s National Guard deployment in Washington. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Declaring crime in DC an emergency, Trump last month placed the city’s police department under federal control and deployed the National Guard. While the president allowed his 30-day takeover to expire last week, he has called for Republicans to advance “a Comprehensive Crime Bill.”
One of the House-approved measures – dubbed the DC Crimes Act and introduced by Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds – would limit the city’s ability to enact changes to its criminal sentencing laws.
It would also lower DC’s age for youth offenders and requires the DC attorney general to publish juvenile crime statistics on a public website.
The bill passed by a vote of 240 to 179 with 31 Democrats crossing party lines to vote in support and only one Republican voting against it.
A separate bill was passed by the House that would lower the age that juveniles can be tried as adults for certain violent offenses to 14 years of age. It passed by a vote of 225 to 203 with eight Democrats crossing party lines to vote in favor and one Republican voting against it.
Backers of the legislative push argue it would combat crime and empower local law enforcement, while its critics – in many cases, city residents and congressional Democrats – have argued the provisions represent unwarranted federal overreach.
A number of other DC crime-related measures have yet to be voted on by the full House.
One would repeal a DC policing reform law that was passed in the wake of George Floyd’s death, end cash bail, and “beautify” the city. Another measure would have DC’s attorney general be appointed by the president, rather than elected by the city’s residents.
Another measure would repeal two DC laws that US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro had argued emboldens juvenile criminals: One that lets offenders convicted of crimes they committed as a minor ask for a sentencing reduction after serving 15 years in prison, and another that allows automatic sealing or expungement of certain misdemeanors like marijuana possession.
The legislation is under discussion as DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Attorney General Brian Schwalb are set to testify before the House Oversight Committee this week.
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