Garbarino, Clyde Resolution To Block D.C.'s Anti-Police Law Passes House with Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J.Res. 42, Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. The joint resolution, co-led by Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) and sponsored by Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), was passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 229-189. The Members first introduced the resolution last month, which blocks the implementation of anti-police legislation passed by the D.C. Council.
“Democrat politicians in cities like New York and D.C. have continuously fed anti-police sentiment that endangers our officers and make it harder for them to do their jobs,” said Rep. Garbarino. “Policies like those in D.C.’s deeply misguided police reform law only empower criminals at the expense of our men and women in blue. I was proud to join with Congressman Clyde to offer this Joint Resolution. With its passage, we send a message that enough is enough – we in the House will not stand by while our law enforcement officers are vilified and handcuffed by pro-criminal/anti-cop legislation.”
“For the second time this Congress, the House has effectively exercised its exclusive legislative authority, outlined in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution, to block another severely misguided bill from the D.C. Council, which puts criminals first and police officers last,” said Rep. Clyde. “After losing almost 1,200 officers over the last two years due to the Council’s legislation, the Metropolitan Police Department continues to operate in an officer deficit amidst the District’s chaotic crime crisis. By passing my resolution, this body has firmly rejected the Council's anti-police law, reaffirmed our support of heroic law enforcement officers, and underscored the importance of protecting Americans’ safety in Washington. I thank my colleagues for passing my commonsense resolution with bipartisan support, and I now urge both the Senate and the White House to choose people over politics by joining our effort to improve public safety in our nation’s capital city.”
The D.C. Council first passed emergency “police reform” bill in the wake of anti-police protests during the summer of 2020. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 includes additional policing provisions that were introduced over the last two years.
According to D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton, the Metropolitan Police Department has lost at least 1,000 officers over the last two years following the Council’s enactment of this legislation under emergency legislative powers.
“D.C. residents deserve better than the reckless policies enacted by Chairman Mendelson, Councilmember Allen, and their misguided colleagues. Their so-called 'reforms' are sabotaging the District and endangering all who live, visit, and work here. Today's action by Congress is a victory for common sense and the hardworking women and men of the Metropolitan Police Department. We want to thank Congressman Clyde and his colleagues for taking up this important issue to protect citizens of the District of Columbia and restore respect for the police officers at MPD,” said D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton.
If passed by the Senate and signed by the President, H.J.Res. 42 would prevent the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 from taking effect. Last month, President Biden signed another Garbarino supported resolution, H.J.Res. 26, into law, nullifying the D.C. Council’s soft-on-crime Revised Criminal Code Act.
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution grants Congress exclusive legislative authority to manage Washington, D.C.’s affairs.
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