WASHINGTON – On Friday, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) reintroduced common sense legislation to make our nation's capital safe again for all Americans.

H.R. 4922 – The D.C. Criminal Reform to Immediately Make Everyone Safer (D.C. CRIMES) Act" is the 19th piece of legislation proposed by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress and asserts Congressional control over the District of Columbia by prohibiting the D.C. Council from pursuing progressive, soft-on-crime sentencing policy.

Specifically, this bill addresses juvenile crime by lowering D.C.’s definition of a “youth” from 24 years old to under 18, resulting in individuals 18 and older properly treated and tried as adults. The bill also removes judicial discretion that allows youth offenders to be sentenced below the mandatory minimum for a crime and prohibits the D.C. Council from enacting any additional changes to D.C.’s mandatory minimum sentences and sentencing guidelines. Congressman Donalds released the following statement:

"For far too long, our nation’s capital has been plagued by an epidemic of violence due to the soft-on-crime policies of far-left, local leaders. Weak leadership by anti-cop radicals gives rise to chaos and the reign of terror unleashed on innocent residents and visitors of our nation’s capital must end now. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to oversee the District of Columbia, and it's imperative that we act quickly to assert our control when local government fails to do its job. The American people deserve better, and I will not stand idly by while our capital city devolves into chaos. My DC CRIMES Act will restore law and order to the District.”

Here's what they're saying:

THE BALTIMORE SUN: "Republican representative from Florida, Byron Donalds, presented the D.C. Crimes Act, which gives Congress more control over Washington and prohibits the council from creating or changing specific laws about crime."

CW 39 HOUSTON: "Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is reintroducing a bill on Friday to assert congressional control over the District of Columbia’s sentencing policies. Dubbed the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Ma..."

DC NEWS NOW: "As federal officials continue to look for ways to crack down on crime in the city, now, Republican Florida Congressman Byron Donalds reintroduced his 2024 DC CRIMES Act–a bill that would grant Congressional control over DC's sentencing policies. It would also amend the DC Home Rule Act, preventing Council from making further amendments to sentencing laws."

THE HILL: "Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is reintroducing a bill on Friday to assert congressional control over the District of Columbia’s sentencing policies. Dubbed the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act, or DC CRIMES Act, the bill would prohibit the District’s local officials from changing sentencing laws and restrict the ability of local judges to be more lenient with younger criminals."

FLORIDA POLITICS: “Byron Donalds reintroduces D.C. crime bill to override local Council amid Trump calls' via Emily Brooks of The Hill — Rep. Donalds is reintroducing a bill on Friday to assert congressional control over the District of Columbia’s sentencing policies. Dubbed the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act, or D.C. CRIMES Act, the bill would prohibit the district’s local officials from changing sentencing laws and restrict the ability of local judges to be more lenient with younger criminals. The bill’s introduction comes as Trump this week floated fully federalizing D.C. as a means to address crime in the nation’s capital. Trump’s message came after Edward Coristine, who worked in the Department of Government Efficiency and gained notoriety for his nickname “Big Balls,” was allegedly beaten in connection with a carjacking attempt."

FLORIDA'S VOICE: "Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of the Sunshine State in the 2026 election, reintroduced legislation aimed at overhauling crime policies in Washington, D.C., asserting that local leaders have failed to maintain order in the nation’s capital and calling for stronger federal oversight. The bill, titled the D.C. Criminal Reform to Immediately Make Everyone Safer, or D.C. CRIMES Act, would bar the D.C. Council from enacting softer sentencing laws and would redefine juvenile offenders as adults starting at age 18."

KX NEWS–CBS BISMARCK: “Byron Donalds reintroduces DC crime bill to override local council amid Trump calls.”

TAMPA FREE PRESS: "In a bid to address the “epidemic of violence” in the nation’s capital, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has reintroduced legislation to reassert congressional authority over the District of Columbia’s criminal justice system. The 'D.C. Criminal Reform to Immediately Make Everyone Safer (D.C. CRIMES) Act' aims to curb what Donalds and other leaders describe as a “soft-on-crime” approach by local officials."

7 NEWS DC–ABC WASHINGTON WJLA: "Republican representative from Florida, Byron Donalds, presented this bill, the D.C. CRIMES Act. It gives Congress more control over D.C. and prohibits council from creating or changing certain laws about crime through the multiple steps to remove power from D.C. as well as the council."

24/7 NEWS DC–ABC WASHINGTON WJLA: "Following the Trump administration's actions, there is a bill on Capitol Hill right now aimed at cracking down on DC crime. Republican Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida reintroduced the DC CRIMES Act."

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