Advisory: National organizations and local DC leaders to speak out against House bills attacking DC
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: November 18, 2025
CONTACT: Free DC Media Team, media@freedcproject.org, (202) 771-1921
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on two bills on Wednesday that attack the District of Columbia. These are among more than 40 bills this Congress has introduced that attempt to undo local laws or attack local programs in the nation’s capital. The House has already passed seven such bills; four more are expected to come for a vote before the House before the end of the year.
Attempts to dismantle DC's local governing power are part of the Trump’s administration’s systematic attacks on American communities and democracy. A coalition of more than 20 national organizations is formally opposing these and all attacks against DC. On Tuesday, ahead of the votes, representatives of this coalition together with DC advocates will hold a press conference to discuss these ongoing attacks.
WHAT: National allies and local leaders united against Congress’s attacks on DC
WHEN: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 @ 4:00 PM
WHERE: House Triangle (Near the southeast corner of the U.S. Capitol Building)
WHO: U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11)
U.S. Senator Ankit Jain (D-DC)
U.S. Representative Oye Owolewa (D-DC)
DC Councilmember Robert White
Leaders of Free DC
Markus Batchelor, National Political Director, People for the American Way
Additional speakers awaiting final confirmation
The two bills that will come for a vote on Wednesday are:
H.R. 5214, the “District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025,” will attempt to return DC to a cash bail system which keeps innocent people in jail if they cannot afford to pay their way out.
H.R. 5107, the “Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC Act of 2025,” will attempt to undo DC’s 2022 police reforms that banned masked police and expanded the use of body-worn cameras, among other provisions.
The four additional bills scheduled to be voted on before the end of the year:
H.R. 5179, the “District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act.” This bill will attempt to eliminate DC’s locally elected Attorney General and grant the President sole authority to nominate a replacement.
H.R. 5172, the “Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act.” This bill will attempt to increase or establish mandatory minimum sentences for a number of offenses, and remove the exception for minors.
H.R. 5242/S. 2815, to repeal D.C.’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016 and the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022. An amendment was added to this bill in committee that would prohibit automated traffic enforcement in DC and undo the no-right-on-red traffic safety law.
H.R. 5163, the “Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act.” This bill will attempt to prohibit camping on public property in DC — effectively criminalizing homelessness.
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Senator Ankit Jain was elected DC’s U.S. Senator in 2024. He advocates before the U.S. Senate to advance DC statehood and protect DC Home Rule. Since taking office, he has been hard at work protecting DC’s rights from attack by the federal government. Learn more atsenatorjaindc.com.
Free DCis the renewed campaign to protect DC Home Rule and win lasting dignity for the people of the District of Columbia. Learn more and get involved atFreeDCproject.org.
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