DC Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in disbelief over the fact that in our own Nation's Capital, prosecutors are allowed to prosecute criminals as old as 25 years old as minors.

While President Trump has restored law and order to the District, I am not surprised that D.C.'s local government continues to protect the criminals and ignore victims. The D.C. CRIMES Act puts an end to this madness and ensures safety and security across D.C.

At 18 years old, you are given adult responsibilities, like being able to vote or sign up for the military. At 18 years, you become responsible for your choices and your decisions and should be treated as such. At 21 years old, you are able to legally consume alcohol. At 25 years old, you can become a Member of Congress.

This is why the D.C. CRIMES Act is essential to ensuring the long- term safety and security of our Nation's Capital so that violent offenders are not just handed any more get-out-of-jail-free cards. The bill also orders judges to stop sentencing youth offenders below the minimum sentencing guidelines.

It is time to bring back justice in America. It is time for fair punishment for the people who interfere with people's daily lives, specifically those with prior convictions. The revolving door of justice ends today. I cannot thank Representative Donalds enough for his vital work on this legislation.

It is time to push back against soft-on-crime judges and DAs. We are a nation of laws, Mr. Speaker, and Washington, D.C., should be a model for justice across our great Nation.

In no way, shape, form, or fashion should we be charging adults as minors and allowing them to return to commit similar or more violent crimes. The citizens, tourists, businesspeople, and every other member of this city deserve safety and security. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, which will ensure just that.

We will restore D.C. to become the shining city on the hill that our Founders envisioned it to be. I again thank my dear friend Congressman Donalds. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

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