WASHINGTON, D.C., CRIMINAL LAW: The House has passed the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act (H.R. 7530), sponsored by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. The bill would change the criminal code for Washington, D.C., by defining as a juvenile those age 18 or younger, and by barring the D.C. Council from changing the District’s criminal liability jail sentences. Currently, those age 19 through 24 are defined as juveniles. Donalds said: “This bill is a great step toward ensuring our capital city is going to be safe.” An opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said the bill permanently ends the D.C. government’s authority to make its own criminal laws. The vote, on May 15, was 225 yeas to 181 nays.

BORDER SECURITY RESOLUTION: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 1210), sponsored by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., to condemn as a crisis, caused by the Biden administration, immigration and other security problems at the border with Mexico, and advocate for support for law enforcement at the border and elsewhere who are responding to the crisis. Higgins said the resolution acknowledges that law enforcement officers “have been horribly impacted by the Biden administration policies at our southern border which have brought generational trauma upon our country and an era of misery we may never forget.” An opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., called it “just another excuse for Republicans to play politics with the southern border and to sound tough without actually doing anything.” The vote, on May 15, was 223 yeas to 185 nays, with 1 voting present.

ATTACKS ON POLICE: House has passed the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act (H.R. 7581), sponsored by Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., to require the attorney general to provide Congress with a report on nationwide criminal attacks against law enforcement officers that includes recommendations for ways to prevent such attacks. Bishop said the bill would help Congress “develop the information necessary so that we can protect the officers who serve us, who risk their lives every day.” An opponent, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said there were already adequate reporting programs, and Jayapal asserted that “absolutely nothing in this bill makes a single police officer safer or invests a single dollar in officer wellness.” The vote, on May 15, was 356 yeas to 55 nays.

IMMIGRATION AND POLICE VIOLENCE: The House has passed the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act (H.R. 7343), sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. The bill would direct the Homeland Security Department to deport any unauthorized U.S. resident who has been charged with or convicted of assaulting a police officer or other type of first responder. Van Drew called it “an important step in ensuring that we have zero tolerance for those in our country who break our laws and assault those who are sworn to protect and to serve our American communities.” An opponent, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said deportation was already a penalty for such assaults, and she faulted the bill for lacking “provisions to protect those who are mistakenly arrested and are released without charges.” The vote, on May 15, was 265 yeas to 148 nays.