Introduction of the District of Columbia Prosecutor Home Rule Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the District of Columbia Prosecutor Home Rule Act of 2023, which would give D.C. the authority to prosecute all crimes committed under its laws. Congress already lets D.C. write D.C. criminal laws, and lets D.C. enforce them against some violators. Congress should let D.C. enforce them against all violators. This bill would effectuate a 2002 advisory referendum, approved by 82 percent of D.C. voters, to create a local prosecutor's office.

Currently, the U.S. Attorney for D.C. has the authority to prosecute most D.C. crimes committed by adults and some by juveniles, while the D.C. Attorney General has the authority to prosecute most D.C. crimes committed by juveniles and some by adults. Giving D.C. the authority to prosecute all D.C. crimes would not only give D.C. residents a say in the enforcement of all their laws, it also would save the federal government tens of millions of dollars a year by reducing the number of assistant U.S. attorneys in the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C.

Last Congress, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed this bill as part of my District of Columbia Home Rule Expansion Act of 2022.

I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

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