Ian Patrick, FISM News
The District of Columbia’s attempt to revamp its criminal code was officially struck down by President Biden on Monday.
Biden signed H.J.Res. 26 into law, which effectively nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), who sponsored the bill, announced the news over Twitter saying it marks “a major first step to restoring law and order in our nation’s capital city.”
BREAKING NEWS: President Biden officially signed my bipartisan resolution to block the D.C. Council’s dangerous overhaul of Washington’s criminal code into law.
This is a major first step to restoring law and order in our nation’s capital city. pic.twitter.com/4h60intj9T
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) March 20, 2023
The act in question aimed to lower penalties for certain crimes in D.C. It also aimed to eliminate most mandatory sentences for numerous crimes, including violent offenses like carjackings and robberies.
The House Oversight Committee tweeted a similar congratulatory remark upon killing “DC’s soft-on-crime bill.”
Today, President Biden signed House Republicans’ resolution to overturn DC’s soft-on-crime bill. Turns out woke policies like giving criminals increased leniency are not popular with the American people nor do anything to make our communities safer. https://t.co/5iVA3aEyDE
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) March 20, 2023
Despite the D.C. Council withdrawing the bill, Congressional lawmakers felt it important to have an official document to nullify such an action. Some members of the D.C. Council even expect this behavior to continue.
“I’m afraid that we’re going to see more of this for the remainder of this Congress,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson according to reporting by the Associated Press.
“Does this raise a concern that there are going to be other issues? Yes,” Mendelson added.
It does appear that the battle over this specific crime bill will be continuing at the very least. House Oversight Committee Chair, Republican James Comer, requested that D.C. officials and the head of the D.C. Police Union testify before his committee on March 29 “about crime, safety, & city management.”
🚨🚨
The District of Columbia is in crisis.@RepJamesComer is calling on DC officials and the head of the DC Police Union to testify on March 29 about crime, safety, & city management.
All Americans must feel safe in our capital city.
Accountability is coming. pic.twitter.com/b2UFBYViGe
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) March 15, 2023