[House Document 118-45]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-45
 
                      VETO MESSAGE ON H.J. RES. 42

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

                     A VETO MESSAGE ON H.J. RES. 42












[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]










                  May 29, 2023.--Ordered to be printed 

                             _________
                              
                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                 
39-011                   WASHINGTON : 2023 














To the House of Representatives:
    I am returning herewith without my approval H.J. Res. 42, a 
resolution that would disapprove the action of the District of 
Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and 
Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
    I believe we have an obligation to make sure that all our 
people are safe and that public safety depends on public trust. 
It is a core policy of my Administration to provide law 
enforcement with the resources they need for effective, 
accountable community policing.
    While I do not support every provision of the Comprehensive 
Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, this 
resolution from congressional Republicans would overturn 
commonsense police reforms such as: banning chokeholds; setting 
important restrictions on use of force and deadly force; 
improving access to body-worn camera recordings; and requiring 
officer training on de-escalation and use of force.
    The Congress should respect the District of Columbia's 
right to pass measures that improve public safety and public 
trust. I continue to call on the Congress to pass commonsense 
police reform legislation.
    Therefore, I am vetoing this resolution.

                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
    The White House, May 25, 2023.

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