[House Report 119-463]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Rept. 119-463
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { Part 1
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOME RULE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025
_______
January 27, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Comer, from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 5183]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 5183) to amend the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act to establish a uniform 60-day
congressional review period for District of Columbia laws, to
clarify the expedited procedures applicable to consideration of
resolutions of disapproval of District of Columbia laws, to
authority the use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove
provisions of District of Columbia laws and District of
Columbia executive orders and regulations, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do
pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Summary and Purpose of Legislation............................... 5
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 6
Section by Section Analysis...................................... 7
Legislative History.............................................. 10
Committee Consideration.......................................... 10
Roll Call Votes.................................................. 10
Explanation of Amendments........................................ 15
List of Related Committee Hearings............................... 15
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the
Committee...................................................... 15
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 15
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch..................... 15
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 16
Federal Advisory Committee Act Statement......................... 16
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement........................... 16
Earmark Identification........................................... 16
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 16
New Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost
Estimate....................................................... 16
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 20
Minority Views................................................... 29
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Home Rule
Improvement Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. UNIFORM 60-DAY CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW PERIOD FOR DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA LAWS.
(a) Establishment of 60-Day Period; Clarification of Beginning of
Period and Days Excluded.--Section 602(c)(1) of the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``the 30-calendar-day period (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any day on which neither
House is in session because of an adjournment sine die, a
recess of more than three days, or an adjournment of more than
three days) beginning on the day such act is transmitted by the
Chairman to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
President of the Senate'' and inserting the following: ``the
60-day period (excluding days either House of Congress is
adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress)
beginning on the later of the day such act is transmitted by
the Chairman to the Speaker of the House of Representatives or
the day such act is transmitted by the Chairman to the
President of the Senate''; and
(2) by striking ``such 30-day period'' each place it appears
and inserting ``such 60-day period''.
(b) Elimination of Alternative Period for Acts Affecting Criminal
Laws.--Section 602(c) of such Act (sec. 1-206.02(c), D.C. Official
Code) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
(c) Special Rule for Acts Designated by Council as Involving
Emergency Circumstances.--
(1) No renewal of waiver of review for succeeding acts.--
Section 602(c) of such Act (sec. 1-206.02(c), D.C. Official
Code), as amended by subsection (b), is amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) If an Act is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (1)
because of a determination by the Council under section 412(a) that the
Act should take effect immediately because of emergency circumstances,
an Act of the Council to extend the period during which such Act is
effective, or any Act of the Council which is substantially the same as
such Act, shall not be exempt from the requirements of paragraph
(1).''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 412(a) of such Act (sec.
1-204.12(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking
``ninety days'' and inserting ``ninety days, subject to section
602(c)(3)''.
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF EXPEDITED PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL.
(a) Application of All Procedures to All Resolutions of
Disapproval.--The fourth sentence of section 602(c)(1) of the District
of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is
amended by striking ``section 604, except subsections (d), (e), and (f)
of such section,'' and inserting ``section 604''.
(b) Clarification of Procedures.--Section 604 of such Act (sec. 1-
206.04, D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking subsections (c)
through (j) and inserting the following:
``(c) Referral to Committees.--A resolution with respect to Council
action shall be referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform of the House of Representatives, or the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, by the President of
the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case
may be.
``(d) Procedures in House of Representatives.--(1) In the House of
Representatives, if the committee to which a resolution has been
referred has not reported it at the end of twenty calendar days after
its introduction, it is in order to move to discharge the committee
from further consideration of any other resolution with respect to the
same Council action which has been referred to the committee.
``(2) In the House, a motion to discharge may be made only by an
individual favoring the resolution, is highly privileged (except that
it may not be made after the committee has reported a resolution with
respect to the same action), and debate thereon shall be limited to not
more than one hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and
those opposing the resolution. An amendment to the motion is not in
order, and it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which
the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
``(3) In the House, if the motion to discharge is agreed to or
disagreed to, the motion may not be renewed, nor may another motion to
discharge the committee be made with respect to any other resolution
with respect to the same action.
``(4) In the House, when the committee has reported, or has been
discharged from further consideration of, a resolution, it is at any
time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same
effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration
of the resolution. The motion is highly privileged and is not
debatable. An amendment to the motion is not in order, and it is not in
order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to.
``(5) In the House, debate on the resolution shall be limited to not
more than one hour, which shall be divided equally between those
favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit
debate is not debatable. An amendment to, or motion to recommit, the
resolution is not in order, and it is not in order to move to
reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed
to.
``(6) In the House, motions to postpone made with respect to the
discharge from committee or the consideration of a resolution, and
motions to proceed to the consideration of other business, shall be
decided without debate.
``(7) In the House, appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating
to the application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the
procedure relating to a resolution shall be decided without debate.
``(e) Procedures in Senate.--(1) In the Senate, if the committee to
which is referred a resolution described in subsection (b) has not
reported such joint resolution (or an identical joint resolution) at
the end of 20 calendar days after its introduction, such committee may
be discharged from further consideration of such joint resolution upon
a written demand by any Member of the Senate, and such joint resolution
shall be placed on the calendar.
``(2)(A) In the Senate, when the committee to which a resolution is
referred has reported, or when a committee is discharged (under
paragraph (1)) from further consideration of a resolution described in
subsection (b), it is at any time thereafter in order (even though a
previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for a motion
to proceed to the consideration of the resolution, and all points of
order against the resolution (and against consideration of the
resolution) are waived. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a
motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of
other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is
agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed
to the consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the resolution
shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of.
``(B) In the Senate, debate on the resolution, and on all debatable
motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not
more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between those
favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit
debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to
postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other
business, or a motion to recommit the resolution is not in order.
``(C) In the Senate, immediately following the conclusion of the
debate on a resolution described in subsection (b), and a single quorum
call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with
the rules of the Senate, the vote on final passage of the resolution
shall occur.
``(D) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate to the procedure relating to a
resolution described in subsection (a) shall be decided without debate.
``(3) In the Senate the procedure specified in paragraph (1) or (2)
shall not apply to the consideration of a resolution after the
expiration of the 60 session days beginning with the date of the
introduction of the joint resolution.
``(f) Coordination Between Houses.--If, before the passage by one
House of a resolution of that House described in subsection (b), that
House receives from the other House a resolution described in
subsection (b), then the following procedures shall apply:
``(1) The resolution of the other House shall not be referred
to a committee.
``(2) Any Member of that House may at any time offer a motion
to proceed to the consideration of the resolution of the other
House, and such motion shall be considered in accordance with
paragraph (4) of subsection (d) (in the case of a motion in the
House) or in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection (e)
(in the case of a motion in the Senate).
``(3) With respect to a resolution described in subsection
(a) of the House receiving the resolution--
``(A) the procedure in that House shall be the same
as if no resolution had been received from the other
House; but
``(B) the vote on final passage shall be on the
resolution of the other House.''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZING USE OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL TO DISAPPROVE
PROVISIONS OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAWS.
(a) Authorization.--Section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia
Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended--
(1) in the second sentence--
(A) by striking ``such act shall take effect'' and
inserting ``such act and each provision thereof shall
take effect''; and
(B) by striking ``a joint resolution disapproving
such act.'' and inserting ``a joint resolution
disapproving such act or any provision thereof.'';
(2) in the third sentence--
(A) by striking ``disapproving such an act'' and
inserting ``disapproving such an act or any provision
thereof''; and
(B) by striking ``to have repealed such act'' and
inserting ``to have repealed such act or such provision
(as the case may be)''; and
(3) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``disapproving any
act'' and inserting ``disapproving any act or any provision
thereof''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 604(b) of such Act (sec. 1-
206.04(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking ``; but does not
include a resolution which specifies more than one action''.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Section 602(c)(1) of such Act (sec. 1-
206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the
following new sentence: ``The enactment of a resolution disapproving a
provision of an act pursuant to this paragraph may not be construed to
repeal any of the remaining provisions of such act or prohibit the
enactment of any subsequent resolution disapproving any other provision
of such act pursuant to this paragraph.''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZING USE OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL TO DISAPPROVE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND REGULATIONS.
(a) Authorization.--Title VI of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act (sec. 1-206.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``limitations on regulatory authority of mayor
``Sec. 605. (a) Transmission of Executive Orders and Regulations.--
The Mayor shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President of the Senate a copy of each executive order issued
by the Mayor and each regulation promulgated by an officer of the
executive branch of the District government.
``(b) Delay in Implementation.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
an executive order or regulation transmitted under subsection (a) shall
take effect upon the expiration of the 60-day period (excluding days
either House of Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a
session of Congress) beginning on the later of the day such executive
order or regulation is transmitted by the Mayor to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives or the day such executive order or regulation
is transmitted by the Mayor to the President of the Senate, or upon the
date prescribed by such executive order or regulation, whichever is
later, unless during such 60-day period, there has been enacted into
law a joint resolution disapproving such executive order or regulation.
``(c) Deemed Repeal.--In any case in which any joint resolution
described in subsection (b) disapproving an executive order or
regulation has, within the 60-day period described in subsection (b),
passed both Houses of Congress and has been transmitted to the
President, such joint resolution, upon becoming law, subsequent to the
expiration of such 60-day period, shall be deemed to have repealed such
executive order or regulation, as of the date such joint resolution
becomes law.
``(d) Application of Expedited Procedures for Consideration of
Resolutions.--The provisions of section 604 shall apply with respect to
any joint resolution disapproving any executive order or regulation
pursuant to this section.''.
(b) Description of Expedited Procedures for Consideration of
Resolutions.--
(1) In general.--Section 604 of such Act (sec. 1-206.04, D.C.
Official Code), as amended by section 3(b), is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Consideration of Resolutions Disapproving Executive Orders and
Regulations.--The provisions of this section shall apply with respect
to the issuance of an executive order by the Mayor and the promulgation
of a regulation by an officer of the executive branch of the District
government in the same manner as such provisions apply with respect to
a Council action, except that for purposes of subsection (b) a
`resolution' means only a joint resolution, the matter after the
resolving clause of which is as follows: `That the _______approves/
disapproves of the action of the Mayor or an officer of the executive
branch of the District government described as follows: __________',
with the blank spaces therein being appropriately filled, and either
approval or disapproval being appropriately indicated, but does not
include a resolution which specifies more than one action.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 604(b) of such Act (sec.
1-206.04(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking ``(b)
For the purpose of this section,'' and inserting ``(b) For the
purpose of this section with respect to a Council action,''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is amended
by adding at the end of the items relating to title VI the following:
``Sec. 605. Limitations on regulatory authority of Mayor.''.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITING COUNCIL FROM WITHDRAWING ACTS ALREADY TRANSMITTED.
Section 602(c) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-
206.02(c), D.C. Official Code), as amended by section 2(c), is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) After the Council has transmitted an Act under this subsection,
the Council may not withdraw the Act from the Speaker of the House or
the President of the Senate during the period described with respect to
the Act under paragraph (1), and the Act shall be subject to this
subsection without regard to any attempt by the Council to withdraw the
Act.''.
SEC. 7. PROHIBITING TRANSMISSION OF ACTS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS
DISAPPROVED ACTS.
(a) Prohibition.--Section 602 of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act (sec. 1-206.02, D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(d) Prohibiting Transmission of Acts Substantially the Same as
Disapproved Acts.--If a joint resolution has been enacted into law to
disapprove an Act transmitted by the Council under this section, the
Council may not transmit another Act under this section which is
substantially the same as the Act disapproved by the joint resolution,
unless the Council is specifically authorized to transmit such an Act
by a law enacted after the date of the enactment of the joint
resolution to disapprove the original Act.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply
with respect to acts of the District of Columbia which are disapproved
by a joint resolution enacted on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 8. ANNUAL HEARING AND REPORT ON STATE OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Not less frequently than once every calendar year, the Chair of the
Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor of the District of
Columbia shall appear at a hearing of the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform of the House of Representatives and a hearing of the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
to present a report on the state of the District, including
recommendations for such measures as they deem necessary and expedient.
SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as provided in section 7(b), this Act, and the amendments made
by this Act, shall apply with respect to acts of the District of
Columbia which are transmitted to Congress by the Council of the
District of Columbia under section 602(c) of the District of Columbia
Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c), D.C. Official Code), and with respect
to executive orders and regulations with are transmitted to Congress by
the Mayor under section 605 of such Act, as added by section 5, on or
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Summary and Purpose of Legislation
H.R. 5183 amends Title VI (Reservation of Congressional
Authority) of the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973 to establish a
uniform 60-day congressional review period for all D.C. Council
legislation (currently 30-days for most new Acts and 60-days
for criminal code measures), eliminates the ability of the D.C.
Council to extend emergency laws (which are not currently
subject to congressional review) in perpetuity, provides for a
line item veto of D.C. Acts in Congressional resolutions of
disapproval, prohibits the D.C. Council from withdrawing
legislation from the congressional review process, prohibits
the D.C. Council from passing substantially similar laws to
legislation that was successfully disapproved by Congress, and
provides for a similar Congressional review process of D.C.
regulations and Mayoral executive actions. This bill also
provides clear and concise expedited consideration procedures
for resolutions of disapproval in both the House and Senate to
avoid the window of congressional review closing before both
chambers may act on the resolution (e.g., providing for limited
Floor debate after discharge from a Committee, treatment of a
resolution passed by one chamber as privileged in the other,
etc.).
Background and Need for Legislation
The Constitution explicitly grants Congress authority over
the District of Columbia. The Home Rule Act, which was signed
into law in 1973, provides a charter for the local government
of the District of Columbia granting a degree of self-
governance to D.C. officials, including the authority to
legislate, conduct elections, and otherwise govern local
municipal affairs.\1\ Under the Home Rule Act, Congress has the
right to enact legislation for D.C. on any subject, including
legislation to amend or repeal any law in force in the
District, prior to or after enactment, and any act passed by
the D.C. Council.\2\ Specifically, Congress retains the ability
under the Home Rule Act to formally disapprove D.C. Council
legislation through resolutions of disapproval. Currently,
Congress has a 30-day window to pass a resolution of
disapproval through both chambers unless the D.C. Council
action amends the criminal code, in which case Congress has 60
days. The 30-day window has proven too short for Congress to
successfully pass a resolution through both chambers.
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\1\District of Columbia Home Rule Act, Pub. L. No. 93-198 Sec. 601;
87 Stat. 774 (1973).
\2\Id.
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This bill provides a uniform 60-day window for all D.C.
Council actions, granting Congress the necessary timeframe to
effectively review D.C. Council legislation and if necessary
proceed with a resolution of disapproval legislative measure.
Furthermore, the Act would allow Congress to exercise a more
nuanced oversight role over D.C. legislation by allowing for a
line-item disapproval of D.C. legislation--thus shutting down a
D.C. Council tactic of bundling ultra progressive policies in
large, too-big-to-fail legislative packages.
The bill also expands the types of D.C. policy actions that
Congress can disapprove of by establishing a process under Home
Rule to disapprove of mayoral executive actions and D.C. agency
regulations. Additionally, under this bill's Home Rule reforms,
when Congress successfully passes a resolution of disapproval,
the D.C. Council would be prohibited from passing any
substantially similar laws in the future--which is also a key
feature of the Congressional Review Act's disapproval process
over federal regulatory agencies.
The bill also prevents the D.C. Council from attempting to
withdraw its own legislation from the congressional disapproval
window. This is a necessary reform given the 2023 attempt of
the D.C. Council to withdraw the already passed Revised
Criminal Code Act of 2022 during the 118th congress's Senate
consideration of the House-passed H.J. Res. 26 (P.L. 118-1)
when it became apparent the measure would prevail in the Senate
with substantial Democrat support and subsequent
reconsideration by then President Biden of his previous formal
veto threat.\3\
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\3\Joshua Arnold, D.C. Council Attempts to Withdraw Radical Crime
Bill, The Wash. Stand (Mar. 6, 2023), available at https://
washingtonstand.com/news/dc-council-attempts-to-withdraw-radical-crime-
bill.
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The bill also would make it clear under Home Rule that D.C.
Council emergency legislation is subject to congressional
disapproval--which currently skirts Congressional review. The
D.C. Council has abused this loophole by passing major
legislation through emergency provisions and, after such
legislation sunsets, reapproving the same legislation through
the same emergency process--thus leading to a confusing
patchwork of indefinitely extended, temporary laws. The bill's
reforms prohibit the Council from passing similar emergency
legislation in perpetuity, ensuring permanent legislation
passed by the D.C. Council will go through the proper
congressional review process.
While the D.C. Council continues to push an irresponsible
progressive agenda, the District of Columbia Home Rule
Improvement Act improves the established Congressional review
process--representing a historic opportunity to ensure
responsible local governance of the nation's capital.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
The short title is the ``District of Columbia Home Rule
Improvement Act of 2025''.
Section 2. Uniform 60-day Congressional review period for District of
Columbia laws
Subsection (a) amends the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act to extend the period for Congressional review from 30 days
to 60 days, excluding days either House of Congress is
adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress.
Subsection (b) eliminates the alternative period for D.C.
Acts affecting criminal laws.
Subsection (c) further amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to
create a special rule for D.C. Acts designated by the Council
as involving emergency circumstances, such as requiring any
such Act to extend an emergency Act or any substantially
similar Act to comply with the requirements listed in paragraph
(1) for Congressional review.
Section 3. Clarification of expedited procedures applicable to
consideration of resolutions of disapproval
Subsection (a) amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to apply all
procedures to all resolutions of disapproval, striking certain
exemptions.
Subsection (b) amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to clarify the
procedure for resolutions of disapproval, including:
That the resolution should be referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the
House or the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs in the Senate.
In the House, if a resolution has not been reported
at the end of 20 calendar days, it is in order to move
to discharge the committee from consideration of any
other resolution pertaining to the same D.C. Council
action.
A motion of discharge may only be made by an
individual favoring the resolution, is highly
privileged, debate shall be limited to not more than an
hour, and amendments are not in order.
If a motion to discharge is agreed to disagreed to,
the motion may not be renewed, and there may not be
another motion to discharge on the same action.
When the committee has reported or been discharged
from consideration of a resolution, it is in order to
consider the resolution; this motion is highly
privileged and not debatable, amendments to the motion
are not in order, and it is not in order to move to
reconsider the vote.
Debate on the resolution will be limited to not more
than one hour, and a motion to limit debate is not
debatable.
Motions to postpone the discharge from committee of
the consideration of a resolution shall be decided
without debate.
Appeals to Chair regarding rules will be decided
without debate.
In the Senate, if the committee has not reported the
joint resolution by 20 days after its introduction, the
committee may be discharged from consideration of the
resolution upon a written demand by any Senator, and
the joint resolution will be placed on the calendar.
When a committee reports or is discharged from
further consideration of a resolution, it is in order
for a motion to proceed to the consideration of a
resolution.
The motion is not subject to amendment, a motion to
postpone, or a motion to proceed to other business.
If a motion to consider the resolution is agreed to,
the resolution will remain the unfinished business of
the Senate until disposed of.
Debate on the resolution and related motions and
appeals will be limited to not more than 10 hours.
A motion to limit debate is in order and not
debatable.
An amendment or motion to postpone or consider other
business is not in order.
Following the conclusion of debate, a single quorum
call and a vote on final passage of the resolution will
occur.
Appeals from decisions of the Chair will be decided
without debate.
The procedure will not apply to the consideration of
a resolution after the expiration of 60 session days.
If one House of Congress passes a resolution before
the other House receives the resolution, the resolution
will not be referred to committee and any Member may
offer a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
resolution.
The vote on final passage will be on the resolution
of the other House.
Section 4. Authorizing use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove
provisions of District of Columbia laws
Subsection (a) amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to authorize
the use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove provisions
of D.C. Acts.
Subsection (b) further amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to
make conforming amendments and includes a Rule of Construction,
which states that a resolution disapproving a provision of a
D.C. act may not be construed to repeal the remaining
provisions of the act or prohibit any subsequent resolution
disapproving any other provision of such act.
Section 5. Authorizing use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove
executive orders and regulations
Subsection (a) amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to limit the
regulatory authority of the Mayor by requiring the Mayor to
transmit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a copy
of each executive order issued by the mayor and each regulation
promulgated by an officer of the executive branch of the D.C.
government. Each executive order or regulation transmitted
shall take effect after 60 days, excluding days either House of
Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of
Congress. If a joint resolution of disapproval passed both
Houses of Congress and becomes law, the executive order or
regulation shall be deemed repealed. Subsection (b) describes
expedited procedures for consideration of resolutions. For
disapproving executive orders and regulations, the provisions
will apply in the same manner as they apply to a Council
action. The subsection also includes conforming amendments.
Section 6. Prohibiting Council from withdrawing acts already
transmitted
Section 6 amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to prohibit the
D.C. Council from withdrawing Acts already transmitted to the
House of Representatives or Senate.
Section 7. Prohibiting transmission of acts substantially the same as
disapproved acts
Subsection (a) amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to prohibit
the D.C. Council by transmitting an Act that is substantially
the same as a prior Act disapproved by a joint resolution,
unless the Council is specifically authorized to transmit an
Act by a law enacted after the date of enactment of the joint
resolution to disapprove the original Act.
Subsection (b) further amends the D.C. Home Rule Act to
state that the enactment date for subsection (a) is for
resolutions enacted on or after the date of enactment of this
Act.
Section 8. Annual hearing and report on state of District of Columbia
Section 8 requires the Chair of the D.C. Council and the
Mayor of D.C. to appear at a hearing before the House of
Representatives and Senate annually to present a report on the
state of the District.
Section 9. Effective date
Section 9 states that the Act will apply to D.C. acts,
executive orders, and regulations that are transmitted to
Congress on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
Legislative History
H.R. 5183, the District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement
Act of 2025, was introduced on September 8, 2025, by
Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ). The following Representatives
are cosponsors of the bill: James Comer (R-KY), Harriet Hageman
(R-WY), and Clay Higgins (R-LA). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, with a secondary
referral to the Committee on Rules. The Committee considered
H.R. 5183 at a business meeting on September 10, 2025, and
ordered the bill as amended favorably reported by a recorded
vote.
Committee Consideration
On September 10, 2025, the Committee met in open session
and ordered the bill, H.R. 5183, favorably reported with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute, by a roll call vote of
22-18, a quorum being present.
Roll Call Votes
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following roll call vote
occurred during the Committee's consideration of H.R. 5183:
The roll call vote was on favorably reporting H.R. 5183.
The bill was agreed to in a recorded vote of 22-18.
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Explanation of Amendments
During Committee consideration of the bill, Representative
James Comer (R-KY), Chairman of the Committee, offered an
amendment in the nature of a substitute that made a certain
technical change to the bill. The amendment in the nature of a
substitute passed by voice vote.
List of Related Committee Hearings
In accordance with House rule XIII, clause 3(c)(6), (1) the
following hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 5183:
On March 11, 2025, the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement held
a legislative hearing titled ``Enhancing Federal, State, and
Local Coordination in the Fight Against Criminal Illegal
Aliens'' with Joseph Humire, Executive Director, The Center for
a Secure Free Society; the Honorable Bob Gaultieri, Sheriff,
Pinellas County, Florida; and Kerry E. Doyle, Former Principal
Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The following related hearing was held:
On March 11, 2025, the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement held
a legislative hearing titled ``Enhancing Federal, State, and
Local Coordination in the Fight Against Criminal Illegal
Aliens'' with Joseph Humire, Executive Director, The Center for
a Secure Free Society; the Honorable Bob Gaultieri, Sheriff,
Pinellas County, Florida; and Kerry E. Doyle, Former Principal
Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the Background and Need for
Legislation section above.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals or objectives of this bill are to amend the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act to establish a uniform 60-day
congressional review period for District of Columbia laws, to
clarify the expedited procedures applicable to consideration of
resolutions of disapproval of District of Columbia laws, to
authority the use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove
provisions of District of Columbia laws and District of
Columbia executive orders and regulations, and for other
purposes.
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch
Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a
description of the application of this bill to the legislative
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
This bill does not relate to employment or access to public
services and accommodations in the legislative branch.
Duplication of Federal Programs
In accordance with clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII no provision
of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, a program that was included in any report from the
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Federal Advisory Committee Act Statement
Pursuant to section 5(b) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C.
1004(b)), the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Committee
finds that this Committee Print does not direct the
establishment of an advisory committee.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
Pursuant to section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 the Committee has included a letter received from the
Congressional Budget Office below.
Earmark Identification
This bill does not include any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9 of rule XXI of the House of Representatives.
Committee Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(d) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee includes below a cost
estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
New Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the cost estimate prepared by the
Congressional Budget Office and submitted pursuant to section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is as follows:
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Summary of legislation: On September 10, 2025, the House
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered 14 bills
to be reported. This document provides estimates for nine of
those bills.
Estimated Federal cost: The costs of the legislation fall
within budget function 800 (general government) and 300
(natural resources and environment).
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that each
bill will be enacted by the end of calendar year 2025 and that
the estimated amounts will be appropriated each year. This cost
estimate does not include any effects of interactions among the
pieces of legislation. If all nine bills were combined and
enacted as a single piece of legislation, the effects could be
different from the sum of the separate estimates, although CBO
expects that any differences would be small.
Spending subject to appropriation: CBO estimates that
implementing three of the bills, H.R. 5103, H.R. 5179, and H.R.
5183, would increase spending subject to appropriation by
insignificant amounts. Any related spending for those bills
would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. We
further estimate that implementing the other six bills, H.R.
2693, H.R. 5107, H.R. 5163, H.R. 5172, H.R. 5214, and H.R.
5242, would have no effect on spending subject to
appropriation.
H.R. 2693, the District of Columbia Electronic Transmittal
of Legislation Act of 2025, would amend the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act to explicitly allow the chair of the
Council of the District of Columbia to electronically transmit
to the Congress any act passed by the council; under current
law physical copies must be delivered. CBO estimates enacting
H.R. 2693 would have no cost to the federal government.
H.R. 5103, the Make the District of Columbia Safe and
Beautiful Act of 2025, would expand Executive Order 14252 to
require the Department of the Interior to implement a
beautification program in the district. The bill also would
establish within the executive branch the District of Columbia
Safe and Beautiful Commission to develop and coordinate
priorities for the full enforcement of federal and local laws
within the District of Columbia. The bill also would require
the commission to report its findings to the Congress. The
authority for the program and the commission would end on
January 2, 2029. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO
estimates that the cost of implementing H.R. 5103 would be
insignificant over the 2026-2030 period.
H.R. 5107, the CLEAN DC Act of 2025, would repeal sections
of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act
of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-345), which established certain
restrictions and requirements for the Metropolitan Police
Department. Because the bill would affect only the District of
Columbia, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5107 would have no
cost to the federal government.
H.R. 5163, the Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act, would
impose civil and criminal penalties for camping on public
property within the District of Columbia. Because the bill
would affect only the District of Columbia, CBO estimates that
enacting H.R. 5163 would have no cost to the federal
government.
H.R. 5172, the Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act
of 2025, would make changes to the District of Columbia Code
regarding mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines for various
violent offenses. Because the bill would affect only the
District of Columbia, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5172
would have no cost to the federal government.
H.R. 5179, the District of Columbia Attorney General
Appointment Reform Act of 2025, would amend the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act by overturning the election of the
current attorney general for the District of Columbia and
authorizing the President to appoint a new attorney general.
The current attorney general's appointment would terminate on
the date of enactment. Based on the cost of similar activities,
CBO estimates that the cost of implementing H.R. 5179 would be
insignificant over the 2026-2030 period.
H.R. 5183, the District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement
Act of 2025, would amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act
to establish a uniform 60-day Congressional review period for
all legislation, regulations, and executive actions of the
District of Columbia; create a line-item veto during
Congressional review; eliminate the ability of the Council of
the District of Columbia to extend emergency laws; prohibit the
council from withdrawing legislation from the Congressional
review process; and prohibit the council from passing laws that
are substantially similar to legislation disapproved by the
Congress. The bill also would provide for expedited
consideration of resolutions of disapproval within the House
and the Senate. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO
estimates that the cost of implementing H.R. 5183 would be
insignificant over the 2026-2030 period.
H.R. 5214, the District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of
2025, would amend the Code of the District of Columbia to
require mandatory pretrial detention for defendants charged
with certain violent crimes and require mandatory cash bail or
bail bonds for all defendants charged with other specified
crimes. Because the bill would affect only the District of
Columbia, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would have no
cost to the federal government.
H.R. 5242, a bill to repeal the Second Chance Amendment Act
of 2022 and the Incarceration Reduction Amendment of 2016,
would repeal two laws that reduced criminal penalties for youth
offenders in the District of Columbia. Because the bill would
affect only the District of Columbia, CBO estimates that
enacting the bill would have no cost to the federal government.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go
Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement
procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or
revenues. None of the bills would affect direct spending or
revenues; thus, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
Increase in long-term net direct spending and deficits: CBO
estimates that none of the bills would increase net direct
spending or deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year
periods beginning in 2036.
Mandates: CBO has determined that six of the nine bills
would impose intergovernmental mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). Only one, H.R. 5242, would
impose mandates that exceed the annual intergovernmental
threshold established in UMRA ($103 million in 2025, adjusted
annually for inflation).
H.R. 5242 would impose intergovernmental mandates as
defined in UMRA by preempting some laws of the District of
Columbia. CBO considers such preemptions to be
intergovernmental mandates under UMRA. The bill would repeal
two laws that reduced criminal penalties for youth offenders.
H.R. 5242 also would prohibit the city from operating an
automated traffic enforcement system and from restricting right
turns on red traffic lights. Using budget documents from the
District of Columbia, CBO estimates that automatic traffic
enforcement generates about $300 million annually and that the
city would lose that amount of revenue under the bill.
CBO has determined that the following bills also would
impose intergovernmental mandates but estimates that the cost
of the mandates in each bill would not exceed the annual
threshold established in UMRA:
H.R. 5107 would repeal most of the
Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act
of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-345).
H.R. 5172 would increase mandatory minimum
sentences for certain crimes in the District of
Columbia.
H.R. 5179 would preempt D.C. law by
repealing the local election of the current attorney
general for the District of Columbia and giving
authority to the President to appoint someone to that
position.
H.R. 5183 would expand Congressional review
over the District of Columbia's laws and regulations,
limit the city's emergency authority, and create a
line-item veto during Congressional review.
H.R. 5214 would require mandatory pretrial
detention for defendants charged with violent crimes
and require cash bail or bail bonds for defendants
charged with other crimes as designated by the bill.
CBO has determined that none of the nine bills would impose
a private-sector mandate as defined in UMRA.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Matthew Pickford,
Alaina Rhee; Mandates: Andrew Laughlin.
Estimate reviewed by: Ann Futrell, Chief, Natural and
Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit; Kathleen FitzGerald,
Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit; H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOME RULE ACT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE I--SHORT TITLE, PURPOSES, AND DEFINITIONS
Sec. 101. Short title.
* * * * * * *
TITLE VI--RESERVATION OF CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY
Sec. 601. Retention of constitutional authority.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 605. Limitations on regulatory authority of Mayor.
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--THE DISTRICT CHARTER
Part A--The Council
* * * * * * *
Subpart 2--Organization and Procedure of the Council
* * * * * * *
acts, resolutions, and requirements for quorum
Sec. 412. (a) The Council, to discharge the powers and duties
imposed herein, shall pass acts and adopt resolutions, upon a
vote of a majority of the members of the Council present and
voting, unless otherwise provided in this Act or by the
Council. Except as provided in the last sentence of this
subsection, the Council shall use acts for all legislative
purposes. Each proposed act shall be read twice in
substantially the same form, with at least thirteen days
intervening between each reading. Upon final adoption by the
Council each act shall be made immediately available to the
public in a manner which the Council shall determine. If the
Council determines, by a vote of two-thirds of the members,
that emergency circumstances make it necessary that an act be
passed after a single reading, or that it takes effect
immediately upon enactment, such act shall be effective for a
period of not to exceed [ninety days] ninety days, subject to
section 602(c)(3). Resolutions shall be used (1) to express
simple determinations, decisions, or directions of the Council
of a special or temporary character; and (2) to approve or
disapprove proposed actions of a kind historically or
traditionally transmitted by the Mayor, the Board of Elections,
Public Service Commission, Armory Board, Board of Education,
the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of
Columbia, or the Convention Center Board of Directors to the
Council pursuant to an act. Such resolutions must be
specifically authorized by that act and must be designed to
implement that act.
(b) A special election may be called by resolution of the
Council to present for an advisory referendum vote of the
people any proposition upon which the Council desires to take
action.
(c) A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for
the lawful convening of any meeting and for the transaction of
business of the Council, except a lesser number may hold
hearings.
* * * * * * *
TITLE VI--RESERVATION OF CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY
* * * * * * *
limitations on the council
Sec. 602. (a) The Council shall have no authority to pass any
act contrary to the provisions of this Act except as
specifically provided in this Act, or to--
(1) impose any tax on property of the United States
or any of the several States;
(2) lend the public credit for support of any private
undertaking;
(3) enact any act, or enact any act to amend or
repeal any Act of Congress, which concerns the
functions or property of the United States or which is
not restricted in its application exclusively in or to
the District;
(4) enact any act, resolution, or rule with respect
to any provision of title 11 of the District of
Columbia Code (relating to organization and
jurisdiction of the District of Columbia courts);
(5) impose any tax on the whole or any portion of the
personal income, either directly or at the source
thereof, of any individual not a resident of the
District (the terms ``individual'' and ``resident'' to
be understood for the purposes of this paragraph as
they are defined in section 4 of title I of the
District of Columbia Income and Franchise Tax Act of
1947);
(6) enact any act, resolution, or rule which permits
the building of any structure within the District of
Columbia in excess of the height limitations contained
in section 5 of the Act of June 1, 1910 (D.C. Code,
sec. 5-405), and in effect on the date of enactment of
this Act;
(7) enact any act, resolution, or regulation with
respect to the Commission of Mental Health;
(8) enact any act or regulation relating to the
United States District Court for the District of
Columbia or any other court of the United States in the
District other than the District courts, or relating to
the duties or powers of the United States attorney or
the United States Marshal for the District of Columbia;
(9) enact any act, resolution, or rule with respect
to any provision of title 23 of the District of
Columbia Code (relating to criminal procedure), or with
respect to any provision of any law codified in title
22 or 24 of the District of Columbia Code (relating to
crimes and treatment of prisoners), or with respect to
any criminal offense pertaining to articles subject to
regulation under chapter 32 of title 22 of the District
of Columbia Code, during the forty-eight full calendar
months immediately following the day on which the
members of the Council first elected pursuant to this
Act take office; or
(10) enact any act, resolution, or rule with respect
to the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility
and Management Assistance Authority established under
section 101(a) of the District of Columbia Financial
Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995.
(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as vesting in the
District government any greater authority over the National
Zoological Park, the National Guard of the District of
Columbia, the Washington Aqueduct, the National Capital
Planning Commission, or, except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Act, over any Federal agency, than was vested
in the Commissioner prior to the effective date of title IV of
this Act.
(c)(1) Except acts of the Council which are submitted to the
President in accordance with the Budget and Accounting Act,
1921, any act which the Council determines according to section
412(a), should take effect immediately because of emergency
circumstances, and acts proposing amendments to title IV of
this Act and except as provided in section 462(c) and section
472(d)(1), the Chairman of the Council shall transmit to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of
the Senate a copy of each act passed by the Council and signed
by the Mayor, or vetoed by the Mayor and repassed by two-thirds
of the Council present and voting, each act passed by the
Council and allowed to become effective by the Mayor without
his signature, and each initiated act and act subject to
referendum which has been ratified by a majority of the
registered qualified electors voting on the initiative or
referendum. Except as provided in paragraph (2), [such act
shall take effect] such act and each provision thereof shall
take effect upon the expiration of [the 30-calendar-day period
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any day on
which neither House is in session because of an adjournment
sine die, a recess of more than three days, or an adjournment
of more than three days) beginning on the day such act is
transmitted by the Chairman to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate] the 60-day
period (excluding days either House of Congress is adjourned
for more than 3 days during a session of Congress) beginning on
the later of the day such act is transmitted by the Chairman to
the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the day such act
is transmitted by the Chairman to the President of the Senate,
or upon the date prescribed by such act, whichever is later,
unless during [such 30-day period] such 60-day period, there
has been enacted into law [a joint resolution disapproving such
act] a joint resolution disapproving such act or any provision
thereof. In any case in which any such joint resolution
[disapproving such an act] disapproving such an act or any
provision thereof has, within [such 30-day period] such 60-day
period, passed both Houses of Congress and has been transmitted
to the President, such resolution, upon becoming law,
subsequent to the expiration of [such 30-day period] such 60-
day period, shall be deemed [to have repealed such act] to have
repealed such act or such provision (as the case may be), as of
the date such resolution becomes law. The provisions of
[section 604, except subsections (d), (e), and (f) of such
section,] section 604 shall apply with respect to any joint
resolution [disapproving any act] disapproving any act or any
provision thereof pursuant to this paragraph. The enactment of
a resolution disapproving a provision of an act pursuant to
this paragraph may not be construed to repeal any of the
remaining provisions of such act or prohibit the enactment of
any subsequent resolution disapproving any other provision of
such act pursuant to this paragraph.
[(2) In the case of any such Act transmitted by the Chairman
with respect to any Act codified in title 22, 23, or 24 of the
District of Columbia Code, such act shall take effect at the
end of the 60-day period beginning on the day such act is
transmitted by the Chairman to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate unless, during
such 60-day period, there has been enacted into law a joint
resolution disapproving such act. In any case in which any such
joint resolution disapproving such an act has, within such 60-
day period, passed both Houses of Congress and has been
transmitted to the President, such resolution, upon becoming
law subsequent to the expiration of such 60-day period shall be
deemed to have repealed such act, as of the date such
resolution becomes law. The provisions of section 604, relating
to an expedited procedure for consideration of joint
resolutions, shall apply to a joint resolution disapproving
such Act as specified in this paragraph.]
[(3)] (2) The Council shall submit with each Act transmitted
under this subsection an estimate of the costs which will be
incurred by the District of Columbia as a result of the
enactment of the Act in each of the first 4 fiscal years for
which the Act is in effect, together with a statement of the
basis for such estimate.
(3) If an Act is exempt from the requirements of paragraph
(1) because of a determination by the Council under section
412(a) that the Act should take effect immediately because of
emergency circumstances, an Act of the Council to extend the
period during which such Act is effective, or any Act of the
Council which is substantially the same as such Act, shall not
be exempt from the requirements of paragraph (1).
(4) After the Council has transmitted an Act under this
subsection, the Council may not withdraw the Act from the
Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate during the
period described with respect to the Act under paragraph (1),
and the Act shall be subject to this subsection without regard
to any attempt by the Council to withdraw the Act.
(d) Prohibiting Transmission of Acts Substantially the Same
as Disapproved Acts.--If a joint resolution has been enacted
into law to disapprove an Act transmitted by the Council under
this section, the Council may not transmit another Act under
this section which is substantially the same as the Act
disapproved by the joint resolution, unless the Council is
specifically authorized to transmit such an Act by a law
enacted after the date of the enactment of the joint resolution
to disapprove the original Act.
* * * * * * *
congressional action on certain district matters
Sec. 604. (a) This section is enacted by Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively,
and as such these provisions are deemed a part of the
rule of each House respectively, but applicable only
with respect to the procedure to be followed in that
House in the case of resolutions described by this
section; and they supersede other rules only to the
extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right
of either House to change the rule (so far as relating
to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the
same manner and to the same extent as in the case of
any other rule of that House.
[(b) For the purpose of this section,] (b) For the purpose of
this section with respect to a Council action, ``resolution''
means only a joint resolution, the matter after the resolving
clause of which is as follows: ``That the _______approves/
disapproves of the action of the District of Columbia Council
described as follows: ______.'', the blank spaces therein being
appropriately filled, and either approval or disapproval being
appropriately indicated[; but does not include a resolution
which specifies more than one action].
[(c) A resolution with respect to Council action shall be
referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia of the
House of Representatives, or the Committee on the District of
Columbia of the Senate, by the President of the Senate or the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be.
[(d) If the committee to which a resolution has been referred
has not reported it at the end of twenty calendar days after
its introduction, it is in order to move to discharge the
committee from further consideration of any other resolution
with respect to the same Council action which has been referred
to the committee.
[(e) A motion to discharge may be made only by an individual
favoring the resolution, is highly privileged (except that it
may not be made after the committee has reported a resolution
with respect to the same action), and debate thereon shall be
limited to not more than one hour, to be divided equally
between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. An
amendment to the motion is not in order, and it is not in order
to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to.
[(f) If the motion to discharge is agreed to or disagreed to,
the motion may not be renewed, nor may another motion to
discharge the committee be made with respect to any other
resolution with respect to the same action.
[(g) When the committee has reported, or has been discharged
from further consideration of, a resolution, it is at any time
thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same
effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the
consideration of the resolution. The motion is highly
privileged and is not debatable. An amendment to the motion is
not in order, and it is not in order to move to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
[(h) Debate on the resolution shall be limited to not more
than ten hours, which shall be divided equally between those
favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to
limit debate is not debatable. An amendment to, or motion to
recommit, the resolution is not in order, and it is not in
order to move to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is
agreed to or disagreed to.
[(i) Motions to postpone made with respect to the discharge
from committee or the consideration of a resolution, and
motions to proceed to the consideration of other business,
shall be decided without debate.
[(j) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate or the House of
Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure relating
to a resolution shall be decided without debate.]
(c) Referral to Committees.--A resolution with respect to
Council action shall be referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, or the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
Senate, by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, as the case may be.
(d) Procedures in House of Representatives.--(1) In the House
of Representatives, if the committee to which a resolution has
been referred has not reported it at the end of twenty calendar
days after its introduction, it is in order to move to
discharge the committee from further consideration of any other
resolution with respect to the same Council action which has
been referred to the committee.
(2) In the House, a motion to discharge may be made only by
an individual favoring the resolution, is highly privileged
(except that it may not be made after the committee has
reported a resolution with respect to the same action), and
debate thereon shall be limited to not more than one hour, to
be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing
the resolution. An amendment to the motion is not in order, and
it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the
motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
(3) In the House, if the motion to discharge is agreed to or
disagreed to, the motion may not be renewed, nor may another
motion to discharge the committee be made with respect to any
other resolution with respect to the same action.
(4) In the House, when the committee has reported, or has
been discharged from further consideration of, a resolution, it
is at any time thereafter in order (even though a previous
motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to
proceed to the consideration of the resolution. The motion is
highly privileged and is not debatable. An amendment to the
motion is not in order, and it is not in order to move to
reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or
disagreed to.
(5) In the House, debate on the resolution shall be limited
to not more than one hour, which shall be divided equally
between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. A
motion further to limit debate is not debatable. An amendment
to, or motion to recommit, the resolution is not in order, and
it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the
resolution is agreed to or disagreed to.
(6) In the House, motions to postpone made with respect to
the discharge from committee or the consideration of a
resolution, and motions to proceed to the consideration of
other business, shall be decided without debate.
(7) In the House, appeals from the decisions of the Chair
relating to the application of the Rules of the House of
Representatives to the procedure relating to a resolution shall
be decided without debate.
(e) Procedures in Senate.--(1) In the Senate, if the
committee to which is referred a resolution described in
subsection (b) has not reported such joint resolution (or an
identical joint resolution) at the end of 20 calendar days
after its introduction, such committee may be discharged from
further consideration of such joint resolution upon a written
demand by any Member of the Senate, and such joint resolution
shall be placed on the calendar.
(2)(A) In the Senate, when the committee to which a
resolution is referred has reported, or when a committee is
discharged (under paragraph (1)) from further consideration of
a resolution described in subsection (b), it is at any time
thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same
effect has been disagreed to) for a motion to proceed to the
consideration of the resolution, and all points of order
against the resolution (and against consideration of the
resolution) are waived. The motion is not subject to amendment,
or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not
be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
resolution is agreed to, the resolution shall remain the
unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of.
(B) In the Senate, debate on the resolution, and on all
debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be
limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those opposing the
resolution. A motion further to limit debate is in order and
not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a
motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a
motion to recommit the resolution is not in order.
(C) In the Senate, immediately following the conclusion of
the debate on a resolution described in subsection (b), and a
single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested
in accordance with the rules of the Senate, the vote on final
passage of the resolution shall occur.
(D) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate to the procedure
relating to a resolution described in subsection (a) shall be
decided without debate.
(3) In the Senate the procedure specified in paragraph (1) or
(2) shall not apply to the consideration of a resolution after
the expiration of the 60 session days beginning with the date
of the introduction of the joint resolution.
(f) Coordination Between Houses.--If, before the passage by
one House of a resolution of that House described in subsection
(b), that House receives from the other House a resolution
described in subsection (b), then the following procedures
shall apply:
(1) The resolution of the other House shall not be
referred to a committee.
(2) Any Member of that House may at any time offer a
motion to proceed to the consideration of the
resolution of the other House, and such motion shall be
considered in accordance with paragraph (4) of
subsection (d) (in the case of a motion in the House)
or in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection (e)
(in the case of a motion in the Senate).
(3) With respect to a resolution described in
subsection (a) of the House receiving the resolution--
(A) the procedure in that House shall be the
same as if no resolution had been received from
the other House; but
(B) the vote on final passage shall be on the
resolution of the other House.
(g) Consideration of Resolutions Disapproving Executive
Orders and Regulations.--The provisions of this section shall
apply with respect to the issuance of an executive order by the
Mayor and the promulgation of a regulation by an officer of the
executive branch of the District government in the same manner
as such provisions apply with respect to a Council action,
except that for purposes of subsection (b) a ``resolution''
means only a joint resolution, the matter after the resolving
clause of which is as follows: ``That the _______approves/
disapproves of the action of the Mayor or an officer of the
executive branch of the District government described as
follows: __________'', with the blank spaces therein being
appropriately filled, and either approval or disapproval being
appropriately indicated, but does not include a resolution
which specifies more than one action.
LIMITATIONS ON REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF MAYOR
Sec. 605. (a) Transmission of Executive Orders and
Regulations.--The Mayor shall transmit to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate a copy
of each executive order issued by the Mayor and each regulation
promulgated by an officer of the executive branch of the
District government.
(b) Delay in Implementation.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), an executive order or regulation transmitted under
subsection (a) shall take effect upon the expiration of the 60-
day period (excluding days either House of Congress is
adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress)
beginning on the later of the day such executive order or
regulation is transmitted by the Mayor to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives or the day such executive order or
regulation is transmitted by the Mayor to the President of the
Senate, or upon the date prescribed by such executive order or
regulation, whichever is later, unless during such 60-day
period, there has been enacted into law a joint resolution
disapproving such executive order or regulation.
(c) Deemed Repeal.--In any case in which any joint resolution
described in subsection (b) disapproving an executive order or
regulation has, within the 60-day period described in
subsection (b), passed both Houses of Congress and has been
transmitted to the President, such joint resolution, upon
becoming law, subsequent to the expiration of such 60-day
period, shall be deemed to have repealed such executive order
or regulation, as of the date such joint resolution becomes
law.
(d) Application of Expedited Procedures for Consideration of
Resolutions.--The provisions of section 604 shall apply with
respect to any joint resolution disapproving any executive
order or regulation pursuant to this section.
* * * * * * *
MINORITY VIEWS
Committee Democrats strongly oppose the dangerous District
of Columbia Home Rule Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 5183). The
bill would be more accurately titled the District of Columbia
Home Rule Reduction Act of 2025. The bill would limit the
ability of the District of Columbia (D.C.) to respond to an
emergency, cause chaos in the D.C. Code, increase congressional
meddling in local D.C. matters, and prohibit D.C. from enacting
certain laws. The bill is opposed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser,
the entire D.C. Council, and D.C. Attorney General Brian
Schwalb.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Letter from District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser to Chairman
James Comer and Ranking Member Robert Garcia, House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform (Sept. 10, 2025); Letter from Council
of the District of Columbia to Chairman James Comer and Ranking Member
Robert Garcia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
(Sept. 8, 2025); Letter from District of Columbia Attorney General
Brian Schwalb to Chairman James Comer and Ranking Member Robert Garcia,
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Sept. 9, 2025).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of the D.C. Home Rule Act (HRA) is to ``grant
to the inhabitants of the District of Columbia powers of local
self-government'' and ``relieve Congress of the burden of
legislating upon essentially local District matters.''\2\ H.R.
5183 would do the opposite. It would withdraw significant
powers of local self-government from D.C. residents and
substantially increase the burden on Congress to legislate
local D.C. matters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Pub. L. No. 93-198 (1973).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bill would limit D.C.'s ability to respond to an
emergency, such as a threat to the peace, health, or safety of
residents, in two ways.
First, the bill would strip the D.C. Mayor and D.C.
executive branch agencies of authority to issue an executive
order or regulation, respectively, that takes effect
immediately, even in the event of an emergency. It would do so
by subjecting every executive order and regulation to a
congressional review period before it can take effect. Under
the bill, an executive order or regulation would take effect
after a 60-legislative-day congressional review period, unless
a resolution of disapproval is enacted into law during that
period.
Second, the bill would strip the D.C. Council of authority
to respond to an emergency that lasts over 90 days. Under the
HRA, the Council can enact a law that takes effect
immediately--i.e., no congressional review period--but that law
can remain in effect for only up to 90 days. That is known as
an emergency law. The Council can enact a successive emergency
law if a temporary or permanent version of that emergency law
is undergoing the congressional review period at that time.
Under H.R. 5183, a successive emergency law would not take
effect until after a 60-legislative-day congressional review
period, unless a resolution of disapproval is enacted into law
during that period, with no exception for an emergency that
lasts over 90 days.
The bill would create chaos in the D.C. Code in two ways.
First, the D.C. Code would be constantly changing. The D.C.
Council enacts a successive emergency law not only to respond
to an emergency that lasts over 90 days, but also to prevent a
gap in law during the lengthy congressional review period for
the temporary or permanent version of that emergency law. Under
H.R. 5183, an emergency law enacted by D.C. would expire after
90 days, only to be revived after the expiration of a
congressional review period for a temporary or permanent
version of that emergency law.
Second, the bill would give Congress a line-item veto
during the congressional review period for a law enacted by
D.C. H.R. 5183 would authorize a disapproval resolution for an
individual provision of a law enacted by D.C., rather than for
only an entire law. Members of Congress would be able to
introduce a disapproval resolution on an individual provision
of a law enacted by D.C. without any understanding of how that
provision affects other provisions of that law or other D.C.
laws.
The bill would increase congressional meddling in local
D.C. civil matters by making it easier to enact a disapproval
resolution on a civil law enacted by D.C. H.R. 5183 would do so
by applying the congressional review period and procedures that
apply to a criminal law enacted by D.C. to a civil law enacted
by D.C. Currently, a civil law enacted by D.C. is subject to a
30-legislative-day congressional review period before it can
take effect, and it is not subject to a motion to discharge
from committee, whereas a criminal law enacted by D.C. is
subject to a 60-legislative-day congressional review period
before it can take effect, and it is subject to a motion to
discharge from committee.
The bill would strip the D.C. Council of authority to
legislate on certain matters by prohibiting the Council from
transmitting to Congress for the review period a law that is
substantially the same as a law nullified by a disapproval
resolution.
Finally, adding insult to injury, the bill would require
the D.C. Mayor and the D.C. Council Chairman to appear annually
before House and Senate committees to present a report on the
state of D.C.
Instead of reducing D.C. home rule, Congress should
eliminate Congress' authority to meddle in local D.C. matters
by passing the D.C. statehood bill.
Robert Garcia,
Ranking Member.
[all]