After learning that a DC resident had been robbed in the parking lot of a postal facility, I introduced a bill to require security cameras at all USPS facilities. These cameras can deter crime and assist in arrests and prosecutions. More: bit.ly/4pp7Hi3

Merry Christmas, DC. May this season bring you time with loved ones, renewed hope, and the strength of community that makes DC a special place.

Yesterday I introduced my bill to allow DC to set the pay for its Chief Financial Officer.   If every municipality in the nation sets the pay for their local officials, so should DC.

Today, I introduced a bill to expand the reasons a newly separated federal employee can withdraw from their TSP account without a penalty. Nobody should experience financial hardship due to changes in their life.

Happy Chanukkah to everyone in D.C. and around the world who celebrates! May this year’s Festival of Lights bring you joy and happiness.

The House Committee on Natural Resources just passed the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act, an anti-D.C. autonomy bill that allows the federal government to meddle in D.C.’s local affairs. I will continue to protect D.C. and defeat this bill.

Congratulations to Shivaj Raman from St. Alban's school, whose app Divendo was chosen to represent DC in this year's Congressional App Challenge!
 Divendo is a personal finance app for younger users to teach them about investing and money management.

Marijuana is legal in 40 states, yet people in federally funded housing can still be evicted for using it.   I introduced a bill with Senator Booker to fix this and align federal law with the 90% of Americans who support legal medical marijuana.

At this morning’s Aviation hearing, I’ll press the FAA Administrator on whether the FAA supports an NDAA provision allowing helicopters near DCA to fly without transponders. 
The helicopter involved in January’s deadly crash near DCA was flying with its transponder off.   Watch at 10:

I was pleased to join my colleagues in calling for full funding of the Federal Defender Services program.    This program is vital to ensuring protections guaranteed by the Constitution, including the Sixth Amendment.

As increasingly more U.S. citizens have been unlawfully detained by ICE, I used today’s Oversight Democratic shadow hearing to raise concern about these unconstitutional violations. As a constitutional lawyer and lifelong civil rights advocate, I am always working to protect the constitution.

I introduced my bill to designate certain areas in DC as Empowerment Zones which would provide tax incentives for businesses and individuals to invest in these neighborhoods. This bill is critical due to the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal employees and budget cuts.

The DC area hosts the largest Uyghur community in the US, yet their loved ones in China continue to face unlawful detention and forced labor. I joined my colleagues in urging Sec. Noem to ensure robust DHS enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

I’m always working to reduce aircraft noise in DC, which is why I pressed the importance of advanced air mobility technologies like electric and unmanned aircraft at today’s Aviation Subcommittee hearing.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Washington Informer reporter James L. Wright.   James interviewed me many times over the years as he covered the District with uncommon depth, fairness, and genuine respect for his fellow DC residents.   Rest in power, James.

I’m disappointed Rep. Hageman’s antidemocratic and paternalistic bill passed out of committee today.   If enacted, the bill would radically change how local DC laws and regulations are interpreted.

Thank you, Mayor Bowser, for your steadfast service to the people of DC.   You have worked tirelessly to protect home rule from congressional interference and have always been a fierce advocate for #DCStatehood.    DC is stronger because of your leadership.

With under an hour’s notice, Republicans pulled my bill to honor Chuck Brown from today’s markup — because he served time decades ago.   Chuck Brown lifted up DC and defined its sound. Their objection says more about them than it ever could about the Godfather of Go-Go.

I released my statement ahead of today's Oversight markup of two bills related to DC.   The first is yet another paternalistic assault on DC's local democracy.   The second is to rename a post office in DC after Chuck Brown, the Godfather of Go-Go.

World AIDS Day today serves as an important reminder: We must remain steadfast in our commitment to prevent new HIV infections and provide essential services to all people living with HIV globally.

Like other jurisdictions, DC should be able to decide the dates of its own special elections for local offices.   Today I introduced my bill to bring DC one step closer to equality with the states by giving it this authority.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours. I’m thankful every day for the privilege of representing more than 700,000 creative, capable, and resilient residents of the nation’s capital in Congress.

I'm *thankful* the Senate’s FY26 DC appropriations bill includes several provisions I fought for, including $40M for DCTAG, ahead of Thanksgiving.   I’m disappointed it keeps 2 anti–home rule riders, but it’s a major improvement from the 20 in the House version.

DC residents have all the obligations of citizenship, including serving in every American war. They deserve equal representation in all aspects. I introduced my bill to add the DC seal in stained glass among seals of the states in the Library of Congress.

Yesterday was Transgender Day of Remembrance, to honor the lives of transgender people lost to violence.   As a life-long advocate for civil and human rights, I will continue to advocate for protecting the rights of transgender people and the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole.

I applaud the ruling that President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in DC is unlawful.   As I saw at the hearing, @DCAttorneyGen rightly argued that the president has no authority to deploy troops here to “deter crime.”   bit.ly/4o9Y5ae

The bills the House passed tonight don’t make DC safer — they just replace the judgment of 700,000 residents with politicians from NY and GA.   I’ll keep fighting these intrusions on DC’s self-government and pushing for the remedy: #DCStatehood.

D.C. residents deserve the same right to govern themselves as every other community. Yet House Republicans, who know little about D.C., are pushing bills that meddle in what should be local decisions. I stand with D.C. leaders against these harmful attacks.

DC’s policing law, among other things, gave the police chief more authority to discipline officers for serious misconduct; strengthened civilian oversight; improved public access to body-worn camera video; and imposed limitations on military weapons and the use of force.

DC’s policing law, among other things, gave the police chief more authority to discipline officers for serious misconduct; strengthened civilian oversight; improved public access to body-worn camera video; and imposed limitations on military weapons and the use of force.

The DC Council was elected by DC residents. Council members are the appropriate elected officials to make DC laws, not Republican members of Congress representing the interests of far-away districts.

The over 700,000 DC residents, the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are capable and worthy of governing themselves.   If residents do not like how the members of DC’s local legislature vote, residents can vote them out of office.   That is called democracy.

Most of my Republican colleagues do not know that DC’s longstanding pretrial release and detention law is substantially the same as the longstanding federal law, or that the same federal agency provides pretrial services for both the local and federal trial courts in DC.

Rep. Stefanik's bill would repeal D.C.'s longstanding pretrial release and detention law – a law that, inconveniently for her argument, is substantially similar to federal law.

Violent crime in DC dropped 35% last year and is down another 28% this year, yet Republicans are acting as if we’re in a crisis that justifies extraordinary federal overreach. I’m heading to the House floor today to oppose two anti–home rule bills and released my remarks ahead of the debate.

This holiday season, students from DC's Capitol Hill Christian Academy will have their art displayed with the National Christmas Tree!   I'm proud to share some of the ornaments designed by DC students.

Pres. Trump's flyover honoring MBS, the man responsible for killing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, offends me on three fronts: as a defender of freedom of the press, as DC's member of Congress, and as co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus.   bit.ly/4iaL2UA

This week the House will vote on two anti-DC bills.   The DC Council was elected by and is accountable to DC residents. Its members are the appropriate elected officials to make policy for DC, not Republican members of Congress representing the interests of far-away districts.

Constituents often contact me about the impact train noise and vibrations have on their health, quality of life, and the structural integrity of their homes.   I introduced a bill to establish a grant program for the design and construction of barriers to mitigate these harms.

The House will vote next week on two bills advancing President Trump's takeover of DC. After a 43 day paid vacation, their first order of business is not to address the many problems facing the nation, but to attack DC. #DCStatehood will stop Congress from wasting time micromanaging DC

For 43 days, @HouseDemocrats stood firm to protect Americans’ health care and lower costs.   We’re not stopping now. We’ll keep building on this momentum until every American can afford the care they need.

The president may see a branding opportunity in suggesting DC's new stadium bear his name, but the District isn't a product in one of Trump's schemes headed for Chapter 11.   DC deserves to decide for itself.   www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

DC residents have fought and died in every American war, yet are still denied voting representation in Congress and full control over their own local affairs.   I introduced my annual resolution ahead of Veterans Day honoring their service and calling for #DCStatehood.

DC high school and college students: Come work for me! We’re now accepting applications for Spring 2026 interns. Apply by November 30th to be considered. Details: bit.ly/4oqjehr

I joined my colleagues in a letter urging Speaker Johnson to extend the premium tax credits for small businesses. In 2022, 3.3m small business owners had ACA coverage. Many wouldn’t have had coverage if not for the PTCs. Small businesses will suffer if healthcare costs rise.e

Scientists predict that the tides on the East Coast could rise 2-4 feet by the year 2100, causing as much as $7 billion in DC property to be threatened by floodwaters.   I introduced my bill to make DC eligible for federal funding under the Coastal Zone Management Act.

I applaud DC's move to join the lawsuit to stop the withholding of SNAP benefits during the shutdown. 
USDA has billions in contingency funds to spend on food assistance. A moral society does not let children go hungry because Congress can't get along.

To highlight that DC is prepared for #DCStatehood, I introduced a bill to change the title of the DC Mayor to Governor, the DC Council to Legislative Assembly, Councilmembers to Representatives, and the DC Council Chair to Speaker.

The Trump Admin's reinstallation of the statue of Confederate Albert Pike is an affront to DC residents.   Pike took up arms against the US, misappropriated funds, and was captured by his own troops. He has no claim to be memorialized in the nation's capital.

Fun fact: Most members of Congress and their staff get their health insurance via DC Health Link. If the health tax credits aren’t extended, their health insurance costs will go up, like millions of other people around the country. An extension is in everyone’s best interest.