The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by James Comer (R-Ky.), has scheduled a full committee markup for Wednesday, September 10 at 10:00 am ET to consider a range of bills aimed at addressing crime in Washington, D.C.
Chairman Comer stated, “President Trump and House Republicans are committed to restoring law and order in our nation’s capital city. Under President Trump’s decisive leadership, crime in D.C. is now falling at an unprecedented rate. The House Oversight Committee stands ready to back the President’s swift action by advancing comprehensive legislative reforms that empower District law enforcement and tackle the escalating juvenile crime crisis head-on. Every resident and visitor deserve to feel safe in our capital, and together with President Trump, the Committee will fulfill its constitutional duty to oversee District affairs and make D.C. safe again.”
The legislation under consideration includes several bills targeting different aspects of public safety and governance in the District:
- The District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement Act would standardize congressional review periods for D.C. Council legislation, restrict emergency law extensions, provide for line item vetoes, and enhance congressional oversight over local regulations.
- The District of Columbia Electronic Transmittal of Legislation Act would allow electronic transmission of D.C. Council acts to Congress.
- The Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act seeks to implement provisions from a March 2025 executive order by establishing programs for graffiti removal, private-sector collaboration, monument restoration, and creating a commission to coordinate public safety efforts across federal agencies and neighboring states.
- The District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act proposes mandatory pre-trial detention or cash bail for those charged with violent or public safety-related crimes.
- The Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act aims to align mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines with national standards for serious offenses such as murder, rape, carjacking, and burglary.
- A bill would repeal both the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016—which allows sentence reductions for certain crimes committed before age 18—and the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 that expanded expungement options for prior convictions.
- The Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act introduces penalties for camping outdoors on public property in D.C.
- The DC Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safer (DC CRIMES) Act would lower the definition of “youth” in criminal cases from under 25 to under 18 years old; remove judicial discretion on youth sentencing below minimums; require publication of juvenile crime statistics; and prevent changes to existing minimum sentencing laws without Congressional approval.
- The District of Columbia Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act lowers the age at which juveniles can be tried as adults for certain violent offenses from 16 to 14 years old.
- SOAR Act Improvements would change funding allocations within the Opportunity Scholarship Program—shifting more funds toward scholarships—and increase transparency through regular evaluations involving federal education authorities.
- The Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in D.C. (CLEAN DC) Act seeks repeal of recent policing reforms that limit police powers regarding body cameras, disciplinary procedures, use-of-force policies, riot gear approvals, among others.
- The District of Columbia Policing Protection Act proposes allowing vehicular pursuits when deemed necessary by police supervisors while introducing public alert systems during such pursuits; it also requires evaluation reports on current police tactics submitted to Congress.
- Additional proposed reforms include changing how judicial nominations are made—transferring authority from a local commission directly to the U.S. President—and altering how the district’s Attorney General is appointed.
The markup session will take place at HVC-210 on Capitol Hill. It is open to both press and public attendees and will be livestreamed online at https://oversight.house.gov/.
James Comer has represented Kentucky’s 1st district in Congress since replacing Ed Whitfield in 2016. He previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2001 until 2012. Born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972, Comer resides in Tompkinsville. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree.
