District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose the legislation which is in front of us, which is another completely unacceptable attack on the District and on democratic principles.

We know that D.C. has more residents than two States. D.C. pays more Federal taxes than 26 States. D.C.'s government is accountable to the people who live here. Local leadership should be empowered to solve problems without Congress constantly interfering.

I have said many times if Donald Trump wants to run D.C., he should resign and run for Mayor. If Republicans want to get tough on crime, they should stop protecting the criminals in the Epstein files and demand transparency from Donald Trump. Let's talk about the bill in front of us today.

We know the District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act is unfair and bad policy. Under this bill, if someone is charged with certain crimes, he will automatically be locked up before his trial. For other crimes, this bill would require cash bail or bond.

This will make D.C.'s local law much more strict that even Federal law. Pretrial release should be based on a judge's determination of flight risk and danger to the community. We should let trained judges and prosecutors do their jobs and consider each fact of each case.

A person shouldn't automatically be locked up based on a criminal charge before he is even proven to be guilty. We know in our system that a person is innocent until proven guilty. We know that should be true whether that person is rich or poor.

This bill will lock up more low-income people and more people who are also innocent. It will reinforce an unfair system where the rich get perks, while the poor suffer.

Democrats are fighting for a system where wealthy elites aren't above the law but where the justice system is fair for all. We are fighting for democracy.

We should let the council, the Mayor, and the District's justice system work together as they balance the public safety needs of the people. When D.C. residents don't like local policies, they can demand different policies from their elected leaders and certainly vote them out of office.

This bill is not about safety but about Congress once again interfering in local safety decisions by D.C. residents who are perfectly capable of making these decisions on their own.

We should be clear. This bill is also opposed by the Mayor, the city council, and many in the community. It is an overreach by the Republican majority to try to control the District.

Mr. Speaker, the bill is unnecessary. It undermines home rule, and it can make D.C. less safe. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.
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Mr. GARCIA of California. Norton).
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Mr. GARCIA of California. Stansbury).

Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge our colleagues to oppose this bill. D.C. has a right and its residents have a right to govern themselves and elect mayors and council members that choose to pass laws to support the District. Congress should not be undermining local laws.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans want to make it easier to lock up poor defendants pretrial, undermining the fundamental American principle of innocent until proven guilty, all while stripping 700,000 residents of self-rule. Congress should not dictate local judicial policy.

Mr. Speaker, we should oppose these bills, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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