Congressman Paul A. Gosar (AZ-09) has introduced H.R. 5183, the District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement Act, which aims to increase Congressional oversight over the D.C. Council and restrict certain legislative actions by the city government.
Gosar stated, “Under the Constitution’s District Clause, Congress retains ultimate responsibility for the governance of the District of Columbia. Yet in recent years, the D.C. Council has advanced a series of dangerous soft-on-crime measures, including efforts to slash criminal penalties, weaken law enforcement, and defy previous Congressional disapprovals.”
He continued, “H.R. 5183 restores much-needed balance by extending the congressional review period for all D.C. Council legislation from 30 to 60 legislative days before it can take effect. Public safety comes first. Too often, the D.C. Council rushes through radical measures that disregard safety and defy common sense.”
The bill would also prohibit the D.C. Council from reintroducing or passing bills that are substantially similar to those previously disapproved by Congress. Gosar explained, “If Congress rejects a bad idea, the Council should not get another chance to sneak it through.”
Another provision in H.R. 5183 seeks to prevent the use of emergency waivers by the D.C. Council to bypass Congressional oversight on non-emergency issues. “Washington, D.C. deserves a transparent government, not one that hides controversial measures behind so-called ‘emergency waivers.’ My bill also prevents the Council from extending emergency waivers that have been abused to sidestep Congressional oversight and adopt policies that have nothing to do with genuine emergencies,” said Gosar.
Additionally, Gosar’s legislation would require an annual report and hearing from the D.C. Council to Congress regarding its governance practices: “This commonsense step will ensure that the federal district is governed in a manner that reflects its residents and its unique role as our nation’s capital.”
Gosar concluded his statement by saying, “The D.C. Council has shown time and again that it cannot be trusted to put public safety first. My bill makes it clear: Congress has a constitutional obligation to ensure our nation’s capital is safe, stable, and governed responsibly.”
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently held a markup session on related legislation aimed at improving public safety in Washington, D.C., empowering law enforcement against juvenile crime, expanding educational opportunities for local children, and maintaining the city’s appearance.
Paul Gosar was re-elected in 2024 after defeating Quacy Smith with 65.3% of the vote (249 votes), compared to Smith’s 34.7% (132 votes). In 2022, he won against Richard Grayson with 97.8% of votes (192 votes) versus Grayson’s 1.8% (3 votes).
