WASHINGTON, DC – Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today released the below statement ahead of the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability’s hearing on the disapproval resolution regarding the District’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act:

“The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act is designed to improve public safety by strengthening cooperation between officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the community they serve. This legislation is essential in ensuring the swift and certain discipline of officers who use excessive force or violate constitutional rights, which will go far to improve trust and mutual respect between police officers and the community.

Following the murder of George Floyd, cities across the country recognized the importance of enacting comprehensive police reforms—in DC, Congress has approved this measure three times since it was first enacted in 2021. Rather than playing politics with democratically enacted District laws, members of Congress should recognize the merits of this law in advancing public safety. No one knows or cares more about keeping DC safe than the 700,000 residents who live here.”