Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that radical criminal justice legislation passed by the Washington, D.C. Council appears to be headed for defeat, thanks to widespread rejection by House Republicans.

The legislation in question, known as the revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for a long list of crimes, while also reducing maximum sentences for things like first- degree burglary, armed burglary, and first-degree sexual assault.

This law being advanced by the far left, D.C. local politicians handcuffs the courts and empowers convicted criminals to get back out on the streets in record time.

Not only is this legislation misguided, but it comes at the height of a crime wave currently ravaging Capitol Hill.

Over the last year, our Nation's Capital has seen a 76 percent increase in carjackings, a 17 percent increase in homicides and a 117 percent uptick in sexual assaults.

To fight this scourge, we need to be taking a harder line on criminals, not coddling them like this justice reform package would do.

When the RCCA came before the House of Representatives for congressional review, House Republicans stood united in our opposition to this proposal. I am glad 31 of our Democratic colleagues did the right thing for the people of Washington, D.C., and crossed the aisle to stand with the Republican Conference in opposing the bill.

Now it appears a bipartisan group from the Senate will be joining myself and our House colleagues to defeat the RCCA, with President Biden also poised to lend his support.

Safeguarding our streets should never be a partisan issue, and common sense must always remain at the forefront of legislators' minds. I am glad such common sense seems to be winning the day in this case.

During my career as an NYPD detective, I served alongside law enforcement professionals of differing political persuasions, religions, and cultural backgrounds. Let me remind everyone that when people call 911, we never ask what political party they are from. What united us as cops was our commitment to serving the people and protecting the public from criminals.

Now, as a Member of Congress, I will continue that service by combating far-left attacks on our criminal justice system and forcefully reject radical legislation much like the RCCA and the criminal justice reform put in place by Democrats in my home State of New York.

I will always advocate for safe streets and prosperous communities. That is my pledge to you, and that is our House Republican commitment to America.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in staunch opposition to the disastrous new criminal justice reform act passed by the D.C. Council.

If enacted, the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 would effectively prevent the local justice system from keeping criminals off of our streets, all while D.C. grapples with a crime wave.

You see, sir, this is not a lecture. As a matter of fact, I spent a career proudly wearing the uniform. I have stood the line between good and evil. I have interrogated criminals. I have consoled victims.

In Washington, D.C., from February 2022 to February 2023, homicides have increased 17 percent; motor vehicle theft is up 76 percent; total property crime is up 24 percent. Every crime has a victim. Every victim has a story.

Instead of working to stop crime, the D.C. Council chooses to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes, except first degree murder, as part of the RCCA.

This misguided legislation also reduces maximum penalties for violent crimes such as burglaries, carjackings, and robberies.

The D.C. Council is empowering criminals, empowering criminals at the expense of the public, which is why I stand in absolute opposition to their newest soft-on-crime plan.

To say that we are targeting the people of D.C., using them as ``pinatas,'' how do you think the victims feel? Sadly, this procriminal agenda has found its way into many other American cities and States, including my home State of New York.

In fact, the D.C. law mirrors New York State's disastrous cashless bail laws implemented by New York State Democrats. Cashless bail allows criminals to commit crimes and be back out on the streets in record time to commit more crimes and wreak havoc on more victims.

We have seen it recently in my own district, where illegal immigrants robbed a store, were released without bail, and failed to report to their court date afterward.

This progressive playbook on justice reform endangers the public, treats criminals with kid gloves, and poses a serious risk to the future of American cities and, most importantly, our Nation's Capital.

Instead of enabling criminals to escape punishment for their crimes, we should empower judges and juries to impose responsible penalties for crimes committed.

Mr. Speaker, we owe it to the people of Washington, D.C., and the people of the United States of America who live in fear of crime to fight criminals instead of working to protect them.

We must stop the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 from becoming law.

Madam Speaker, for too long, the Biden administration has surrendered control of our Nation's southern border to members of the cartels and other bad actors who seek to do this great Nation harm.

This inaction by the Biden administration has allowed an untold number of illegal migrants, drug smugglers, and human traffickers to cross into our country with ease.

Many of these illegal entrants bring anarchy to our streets by committing violent crimes and help fuel America's drug crisis by smuggling in dangerous narcotics such as fentanyl.

Since Joe Biden has taken office, over 4.7 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended at our southern border, representing a 500 percent increase in border crossings since 2020.

While many have been apprehended, thousands of migrants have evaded capture by Federal authorities, including 70,000 known got-aways in December of 2022 alone.

These migrants remain unaccounted for, and now are free to roam the streets of our cities and towns, endangering the lives of innocent Americans.

In fact, earlier this month, four migrants who were bused to New York from the southern border were arrested on Long Island after stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from a store in my district.

Thanks to the hard work of the Nassau County Police Department they were apprehended. Unfortunately, in New York, Democrats have put criminals ahead of law-abiding citizens and those individuals were released once again to wreak havoc on our communities.

While I am glad that these thieves were captured, local law enforcement should not be forced to deal with the end result of Joe Biden's failed border policy.

If President Biden is serious about securing our border and preventing migrants from committing crimes, like what happened in the Fourth Congressional District of New York, he would stop underfunding Customs and Border Protection and treat our Border Patrol agents the way they should be treated and provide the agency the resources it needs to secure our borders here in America.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I fully intend to hold the President and Secretary Mayorkas accountable for their disastrous open border policies and seek solutions that safeguard this great Nation.