WASHINGTON – One week ago, 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.

After one week since introduction, here's what they're saying:

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."

BREITBART NEWS: "Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has reintroduced legislation aimed to address rising crime in Washington, DC, via the...'DC CRIMES Act,' coinciding with President Donald Trump’s call to address crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital."

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."

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."

FORMER REP. ANTHONY D'ESPOSITO (R-NY): "I think that we've seen it already...my good friends Byron Donalds and Elise Stefanik have already said that they're going to put forth legislation [H.R. 4922 – "The DC CRIMES Act"] to support President Trump's agenda...police in Washington, D.C. are handcuffed."

FOX 45 – BALTIMORE, MD: "Congress could play a role not just in DC but nationwide where Republicans believe blue cities are soft-on-crime...Florida Republican Byron Donalds has a bill that would make changes to DC's youth offender system and sentencing."

GULF COAST NEWS – FORT MYERS, FL: "Florida Congressman Bryon Donalds has reintroduced a bill that would limit the age that offenders can be tried a juveniles...Previously, individuals up to the age of 24 could be tried as a youthful offender... He reinstated the D.C. Crimes Act on Aug. 8 in Congress."

HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JAMES COMER (R-KY): "What we're going to talk about in our committee hearing is also a bill filed by Byron Donalds. We passed that bill. It's called the [DC] CRIMES Act. It holds criminals accountable for committing crimes and that's what has not been happening in Washington, DC. There are no consequences for bad actions, and these kids know it, these criminals know it in Washington, DC, so they continue to commit crimes, and this bill passed the House last year. The Senate didn't take it up. We're going to pass it out of the House again this year, we have new Senate leadership, and hopefully we'll be able to pass that bill into law that will codify and go along with what President Trump's trying to do which is make Washington, DC safer."

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

LEO TERRELL: "I voted for this!"

MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER: "I think it bears consideration."

NEWSMAX: "Legislation filed by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla, known as the [DC] CRIMES Act...would ensure offenders face prosecution for crimes committed in DC...The House passed the measure last year, but it stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Comer vowed to bring it up again, saying new Senate leadership offers 'a real chance' for passage."

NEWSMAX: "Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said Friday that he recently reintroduced a crime bill in the House that would assert congressional control over Washington, D.C., to bring law and order back to the nation’s capital. The legislation would prohibit the D.C. city council from pursuing soft-on-crime sentencing policies and lower the city’s definition of a youth from age 24 to under 18."

NTD NEWS: "Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) reintroduced the D.C. CRIMES Act in Congress on Aug. 8. The legislation would not permit offenders older than 18 to be charged as youth offenders. That category now extends to individuals as old as 24."

POLICE ONE: "Rep. Byron Donalds reintroduced the DC CRIMES Act...which seeks to lower the upper age limit for youth offender status in the District of Columbia from 24 to 18...The bill also includes provisions to prohibit the D.C. Council from reducing existing criminal sentences and requires the district’s attorney general to publish detailed, publicly accessible data on juvenile crime."

POLITICO: "...an Oversight spokesperson said the panel plans to advance Rep. Byron Donalds’ bill [H.R. 4922 – The DC CRIMES Act] to curtail eligibility for D.C.’s youth offender system."

QUIVER QUANTITATIVE: "A new poll shows 90% support for Congressman Byron Donalds' bill aimed at enhancing safety in Washington, D.C."

RIGHT SIDE BROADCASTING NETWORK: "...Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is fighting to help President Donald Trump crack down on crime waves in Washington, D.C." "He reintroduced his DC Crimes Act...to bring the youth criminal offender status back down to the age of 18."

SUPERTALK 99.7 WTN – NASHVILLE, TN: "Byron Donalds brings up the point that these soft-on-crime policies [in DC], simply put, they don't work...that actually sounded a little outrageous, a 22 y/o being charged as a juvenile. It does happen."

TAMPA FREE PRESS: "The debate over crime in the nation’s capital has intensified with the reintroduction of the D.C. CRIMES Act by Congressman Donalds...The legislation seeks to give Congress greater control over the district’s criminal justice policies, which Donalds argues are too lenient. One of the bill’s key provisions is to redefine a 'youth offender' from the current age of 24 to under 18, aligning D.C. with most other jurisdictions in the country."

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."

THE FAULKNER FOCUS: "Rep. Byron Donalds torches D.C.’s “soft-on-crime” laws — slamming the fact that 22-year-olds can be tried as juveniles — and says it’s fueling chaos in the nation’s capital."

THE FLORIDIAN PRESS: "Donalds has motioned to reintroduce the..DC CRIMES Act..The bill addresses juvenile crime by lowering D.C.'s definition of a youth from 24 yrs old to under 18, resulting in individuals 18 and older properly treated & tried as adults.."

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."

THE NATIONAL DESK: "Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., proposed changes to D.C.'s youth offender system and sentencing [H.R. 4922 – The DC CRIMES Act]. Some D.C. city council members, like Brooke Pinto, agree that further action is needed."

THE ROB CARSON SHOW: "We're tired of the nonsense."

TOWNHALL: "Last week, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) reintroduced the D.C. CRIMES Act, aiming to restore safety and order in the city...the legislation is designed to block the D.C. Council from advancing progressive, soft-on-crime policies..."

WLS AM 890 – CHICAGO, IL: "..in DC, if you're 22 years & younger, & you commit a crime, they can try you as a juvenile.." "..so our good friend Congressman Byron Donalds has a new house bill HR 4922..it is called the 'DC CRIMES Act' that ensures all criminals 18 & older are tried as adults.."

WJLA ABC 7 NEWS – WASHINGTON, DC: "Today we're asking you to weigh in. Should adults 18-24 years old receive youth sentences? Yes or no?...So far the majority of you [90%] are voting no..."

WJLA ABC 7 NEWS – WASHINGTON, DC: "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."

WTOP NEWS – WASHINGTON, DC: "Florida Republican Byron Donalds is reintroducing a bill which he previously outlined on the House floor that changes DC guidelines for sentencing youth offenders...Amending the definition of a youth offender from somebody under the age of 25 to under the age of 18."

24/7 NEWS – WASHINGTON, DC: "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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