[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2301-H2302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) is recognized 
for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, 3 weeks ago, this body passed my commonsense 
resolution, H.J. Res. 42, to repeal the D.C. City Council's severely 
misguided anti-police law. We did so with bipartisan support, sending a 
clear message that the people's House remains resolute in our 
commitment to both back the men and women in blue of the Metropolitan 
Police Department and to restore public safety in our Nation's Capital 
City.
  We are only 131 days into 2023, and Washington, D.C., has recorded 77 
homicides, 62 incidents of sexual abuse, nearly 500 cases of assault 
with a dangerous weapon, more than 900 robberies, over 2,400 incidents 
of motor vehicle theft, and almost 4,200 reported thefts.
  Clearly, there is a catastrophic crime crisis here in Washington, 
D.C., yet D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson insists that there is 
``not a crime crisis in Washington, D.C.''
  Meanwhile, it appears that the D.C. Attorney General is more 
concerned with the safety risks of gas stoves than the safety of 
citizens, and Mayor Bowser remains missing in action as criminals 
terrorize the city.
  In an unconvincing attempt to showcase leadership, she held a public 
safety summit this week to discuss the issue of crime. However, the 
Mayor knows what must be done. She simply refuses to do it.
  This isn't complicated. D.C.'s local government must prosecute 
criminals and support Metropolitan Police Department officers.
  Due to D.C.'s failed local leadership, it is now up to Congress to 
save our Nation's Capital from itself. We have both the authority and 
the responsibility to do so, but we must act swiftly.
  Residents, small businesses, visitors, and the heroic officers of the 
Metropolitan Police Department are counting on us to act. Failure to do 
so will only embolden the dangerous, violent, and deranged criminals 
taking over Washington's streets.
  So as I did this morning at the National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial, I call on the Senate to pass H.J. Res. 42 and to put people 
over politics by joining our effort to improve public safety in our 
Nation's Capital City. I urge President Biden to follow suit, just as 
he did in our fight to nullify the Council's soft-on-crime Revised 
Criminal Code Act.
  We must use our authority outlined in Article I, section 8, clause 17 
of the United States Constitution to not only protect Americans in 
Washington but to protect MPD officers risking their lives to defend 
law and order in D.C.
  Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking, and we don't have a minute to 
waste.
  The Senate needs to get this done and pass H.J. Res. 42 for the 
American people.


             Defending Americans' Second Amendment Freedoms

  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the defense of Americans' 
Second Amendment freedoms.
  In January, the ATF finalized its unconstitutional rule pertaining to 
firearms with stabilizing braces. Under the ATF's new rule, any pistol-
braced firearm would be considered an unregistered short-barreled 
rifle, subjecting these firearms to draconian regulations under the 
National Firearms Act of 1934.
  The ATF informed law-abiding gun owners possessing pistols housing 
these braces that they will have only 120 days to register these 
firearms or risk harsh NFA violations, including hefty fines of up to 
$250,000 and up to 10 years in jail. This 120-day amnesty window ends 
later this month on May 31.
  Now, keep in mind, this rule doesn't just violate Americans' Second 
Amendment liberties. It also subverts Congress' sole legislative 
authority because Congress makes laws, not unelected anti-gun 
bureaucrats at the ATF.
  Yet, with the snap of ATF Director Dettelbach's finger--and 
nonexistent authority--millions of law-abiding gun owners, including 
many disabled veterans, will become criminals, felons, overnight if 
they refuse to register, turn in, destroy, or dismantle their pistol-
braced firearms.
  For months I have promised gun owners that I would relentlessly fight 
the ATF's unconstitutional pistol brace rule on their behalf, and I 
meant it.
  Later this month, this body will pass my Congressional Review Act 
joint resolution, H.J. Res. 44, to prevent the Biden administration's 
tyrannical measure from taking effect.
  We are not giving 1 inch in our constitutional right to keep and bear 
arms--not 1 inch, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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