[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 66 (Thursday, April 20, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN 
 APPROVING THE COMPREHENSIVE POLICING AND JUSTICE REFORM AMENDMENT ACT 
                                OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 19, 2023

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 42.
  House Republicans seem to think it is appropriate to stop the 
District of Columbia from enacting the kind of common-sense police 
reforms that many of our states, including my state of Minnesota, have 
already enacted.
  My constituents did not elect me to interfere with the local politics 
of our nation's capital city.
  Congress should respect the 700,000 residents of the District of 
Columbia by not interfering in their right to pass measures to improve 
their public safety and public trust. If my Republican colleagues won't 
support D.C. statehood, they should at least support the autonomy of 
D.C.'s local government.
  The D.C. bill which Republicans are attacking was enacted to 
establish public trust with law enforcement and save lives. Banning 
chokeholds, limiting the use of deadly force, and requiring training on 
de-escalation are positive measures that duly elected D.C. officials 
have determined will make their community safer. Instead of using a 
Congressional vote to overturn D.C.'s law, Congress should be advancing 
law enforcement reform measures on a federal level, such as the George 
Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
  My Republican colleagues need to stop interfering with D.C.'s duly 
elected officials. Congress should instead get to work for the American 
people to cap insulin costs for everyone, make the wealthiest and the 
biggest corporations pay their fair share in taxes, or strengthen 
Social Security and Medicare.
  President Biden has already said he will veto this legislation should 
it make it to his desk. But Republicans insist on wasting Congress's 
time with political stunts like this instead of solving problems for 
the constituents we all were elected to serve.
  Mr. Speaker, H.J. Res. 42 should be rejected.

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