Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) released the following statement after his resolution of disapproval, H.J.Res. 26, passed the Senate with bipartisan support by a vote of 81-14. The resolution, which passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support last month (250-173), blocks the D.C. Council’s dangerous Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (RCCA).

“I applaud the Senate for passing my commonsense resolution with wide bipartisan support, as this sends a clear message that Congress forcefully rejects the D.C. Council’s soft-on-crime law. Despite desperate attempts by the D.C. Council to avoid the Senate vote and ongoing calls to abandon our constitutional responsibility to safeguard our nation’s capital city, we prevailed — delivering a tremendous win to the American people. By striking down the radical Revised Criminal Code Act, Congress has effectively exercised its constitutional authority to manage Washington’s affairs in order to prevent exacerbating an already troubling crime crisis in D.C. and to protect residents and visitors in Washington. I now urge the President to keep his word by signing my resolution when it arrives at his desk so we can ensure our nation’s capital is safe for all Americans.” 

Background

The RCCA would reduce maximum penalties for certain violent criminal offenses, including carjackings, robberies, and even homicides. On January 4th, Washington’s Democrat Mayor, Muriel Bowser, vetoed the legislation — arguing in a letter to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson that the bill “does not make us safer.” The D.C. Council ultimately ignored the Mayor’s concerns, voting 12-1 to override her veto on January 17th. 

After previously threatening to veto the measure, President Biden confirmed last week that he will sign the resolution. The move enraged the President’s Democrat allies, including the 173 House Democrats that opposed the resolution last month.

Earlier this week, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announced that he was withdrawing the RCCA from congressional review. Yet since this desperate attempt to save face has no basis in the D.C. Home Rule Act, the Senate moved forward in voting on the resolution. 

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