Norton Calls on House to Vote Down D.C. CRIMES Act Tomorrow
The D.C. CRIMES Act, which would remove DC's authority to “change any criminal liability sentence” for violations of its own local laws, would be the most substantial reduction in D.C.’s home rule authority in three decades. The House is expected to vote on the legislation tomorrow.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called on the House to vote down the D.C. CRIMES Act when it is considered on the House floor tomorrow. The bill would remove D.C.’s authority to increase or decrease criminal penalties for violations of its own local laws and could be construed to prevent D.C. from establishing any new crimes in the future. Passage and enactment would be the most substantial rollback of D.C.’s authority to govern itself in 30 years.
“I’m calling on the House to vote against this radical, undemocratic, and paternalistic bill when it comes to the floor,” Norton said. “This bill would work against the purported ‘concern’ by Republican members of Congress with crime in D.C. by hampering the District’s ability to deter or punish criminal activity. D.C.’s three top elected officials, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb also oppose the bill, which would be the most substantial rollback of D.C.’s home rule authority in a generation.
“The D.C. CRIMES Act, which was introduced by a member of Congress from Florida, states the D.C. Council may not ‘enact any act, resolution, or rule to change any criminal liability sentence in effect on the date of the enactment of the DC CRIMES Act of 2024.’ This provision, which does not define the term ‘criminal liability sentence,’ is as poorly drafted as it is offensive. If D.C. wanted to increase penalties for violent crime, it could not do so under this bill. Perhaps most egregiously, it could even be construed by a court to prevent D.C. from establishing any new crimes at all.
“The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation. Yet, D.C. residents cannot consent to any action taken by Congress and pay full federal taxes. Indeed, D.C. pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more total federal taxes than 20 states.”
“The nearly 700,000 D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and Brown, are worthy and capable of self-government. I’m calling on the House to vote down this anti-home rule legislation.”
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