Press Releases

Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement regarding the White House's commitment to veto the DC Disapproval Resolution if it comes to President Biden's desk. 

“The Congressional Black Caucus urged President Biden to state in no uncertain terms that he will veto the DC Disapproval Resolution if it comes to his desk, and today the White House confirmed that he would do just that. We cannot afford to roll back the progress we have made on police reform. Republicans are playing politics with public safety. Instead of meeting Democrats to advance policy solutions that will make our communities safer, they would rather use scare tactics than actually improve public safety by advancing police accountability. With this resolution, Republicans will go on record supporting improper chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and police who have been known to abuse their power being put back on the streets.

“House Democrats are united in believing that we can support the police who put their lives on the line for us daily and hold them accountable if they use excessive force or abuse their power. The CBC will continue to advance public safety and police accountability because bad policing has no place in America.”

ICYMI - Watch CBC's full press conference here. 

Yesterday, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, led by Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04), held a press conference calling on President Biden to commit to veto the disapproval resolution that would nullify local D.C. 's policing reform legislation if the disapproval resolution advances to his desk. 

Speakers included Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04); Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC);  Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18);  Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30); Monica Hopkins, Executive Director of the ACLU of DC; and M.B. Cottingham, DC Resident. 

Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04):  

"Let me be clear, I support, and the Congressional Black Caucus supports, law enforcement. What we do not support is bad policing. ... The bill is about improving the relationships between law enforcement and the communities that they serve. If the resolution that [House Republicans] proposed advances to the floor, the CongressionalBlack Caucus is calling on President Biden to state, in no uncertain terms, that he will veto the bill if it comes to his desk."

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC):  

"I say to the Republican members of Congress: Keep your hands off D.C.," Norton said. "Congress has 535 voting members, elected by the residents of each district. None of the voting members are elected by, or accountable to, D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote, even on legislation that applies only to D.C. such as this disapproval resolution, they cannot vote the members of Congress out of office. Members who vote in favor of this disapproval resolution are choosing to substitute their policy judgment for the judgment of D.C.’s duly elected representatives, effectively governing D.C. without its consent."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18):  

“Home rule is the right of the residents of DC," declared Congresswoman Lee. "DC's duly passed police reform measure should not be overruled by Congress. As a member, the ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, and as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, we believe in the importance of the DC Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act of 2022, which will protect Washingtonians and visitors alike. This is a bill that supports public safety, justice, and accountability, and it is a bill that believes in police officers going home to their families and regular residents and visitors going home to their families. No one should be against police accountability and training. No one should be against ending excessive force or providing training for de-escalation. We can really work together to make America safer.”

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30):  

“Attempts to roll back police reforms lawfully passed by representatives of the people of Washington, D.C.  – from members who aren’t from this city and have no meaningful connection to its residents – are a stunning example of government overreach. You wouldn’t want me, a Texan, coming over to Georgia or New York to tell you how to do things, would you? Well, it’s a two-way street. Ultimately, it’s the people of D.C. and their representatives that should decide how their cities are run. That’s how home rule works. So I urge my Republican colleagues who’ve decided to try to interfere in this police and criminal justice reform process to take a look in their own districts before they involve themselves here.”