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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., held a signing ceremony last week for a Republican-led resolution to repeal Washington, D.C.’s criminal code law. With bipartisan support, the resolution now heads to Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
“We are sending a message to every city, to every county, to every state, that no longer will Washington be soft on crime,” McCarthy stated during the resolution signing on Friday. “No longer will we be defunding the police. No longer will we be softening sentences. A new Republican majority changes the course.”
The GOP-backed joint resolution is an attempt to stop a D.C. criminal code law that has been heavily criticized by lawmakers from both parties for being too lenient on crime.
According to NBC News, the D.C. Council passed new legislation last year that eliminated the majority of mandatory minimum sentences and reduced mandatory maximum penalties for lawbreakers. Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser tried to veto the bill, but it was overruled.
Per Just the News, the penalties were reduced for crimes such as carjacking, sexual assault, and certain degrees of murder.
“This is just the beginning. We want everyone to feel secure to walk home. We want everyone to feel safe in the streets and neighborhoods. So we want you to join with us be a part of this resolution because it’s just the beginning. It’s our commitment,” McCarthy said according to a press release.
Both chambers of Congress voted in favor of the resolution, which eliminates the criminal code legislation, earning it bipartisan support.
According to Fox News, the Democrat-led Senate passed the motion last week by an unexpected vote of 81–14, with only 14 Democrats voting against it. Numerous Democrats joined the Republicans in their opposition to the criminal legislation in D.C., including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
After initially opposing the resolution, Joe Biden is anticipated to support the resolution as it travels to the White House.
“The White House put out a formal statement opposing us,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said, per Fox News. “The vast majority of House Democrats voted against us, but then President Biden had an epiphany, he reversed himself. The public pressure was so great, the president now says he wants to sign the same Republican bill that he’d previously announced he opposed.”
