Transcripts For CSPAN2 DC 20240706 : vimarsana.com

We passed it easy disapproval in congress. I voted for it. The president signed it. So what i dont understand is why we are wasting the committees time, the United States Oversight Committees time for the second time on just washington dc, just dc, no other state, no other issue. Dad is clear and fit no. Do you know what else . The data is clear on gun violence. The numbers dont lie. And yet we are ignoring it. Perhaps we can maybe depoliticize issue when they like were doing with fentanyl because its important. Watching parents continue to bury their children because they sent them to schools where this stuff into a Movie Theater other went to a Grocery Store or they were in a church or they were in the synagogue is despicable. So look i know you guys are busy. I know you got stuff going on, youre trying to find the fake informant that now is gone missing. I know youre busy with that but im hoping that perhaps the Oversight Committee, if theyre so worried about federal overreach congresswoman pressley can start being focused on real government oversight. With that mr. Chairman, i give expert before i recognize ms. Boberg come with respect to the missing informant, just so you know, just to clarify, the grassley whistleblower is alive and well. The chair recognizes ms. Boberg. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mayor bowser, is the district of columbia more dangerous during your tenure . [inaudible] congresswoman, as you have heard, we have experienced over the last ten years decreases in Violent Crime all categories of crime. You also heard me talk about in my testimony especially in the last three years being very concerns. What about this last year . What about it . Is a it more dangerous than year than last year . Im asking, mayor because i see crimes of 27 . That doesnt sound like a decrease to me. Violent crime is up 13 and in 2020, in 2021 the, in 2021 the city recorded more than 200 homicides in consecutive years for the first time in 20 years. So is washington, d. C. More dangerous now that youre in office . The nation is more dangerous with more guns and more violence. We are talking about washington, d. C. Here and weve also seen that the Police Budget has been cut 15 million in 2020 mayor. Do you think this can cheapest an increase in crime . I think a lot of things have contributed to increases in crime across the country. What about in washington, d. C. . Do you think the 15 million budget cut to pd in 2020 caused an increase in crime here in the district of columbia . I think we need about 4000 Police Officers over the course of the last several years. You want more Police Officers. Yes. In the past you hired on average 302 Police Officers each year but in 2022 you hired 103. 103. Thats 200 less familiar advocating for more Police Officers after cutting the budget and hiring 200 less Police Officers. I have advocated for more Police Everyday as mayor of the district of columbia. When i became mayor mayor we were facing a retirement bubble and we set a course at that time for hiring and retention do you believe washington, d. C. Would be safer and more secure if you hired more Police Officers rather than decreasing the number of recruitment by 200 . We are not decreasing recruitment but we are facing as cities in Police Department around the country less interest in joining police why do you think that is . Do you think are Police Officers have been demonized because of the rhetoric that is flowing from the city and many other cities across our nation . I think the policing is a tough job. I i would agree. At the job that has grown tougher over the years. And i think particularly when do you think he became more top . Maybe when they were attacked for doing their jobs protecting citizens . I and they lost the funding. Congressman, if im allowed to speak and will and you but unlikely to talk over you. And so we have, it is been my experience in the last eight years that weve had to use more incentives and we have investigated and researched what its going to to a take to attract young people to come to policing the one thing weve done in addition, for example, is to create a Police Academy that we are very proud of. Chief contee is back come join the Police Academy when he was 17 17 years old, enrolled i dont need to hear about childhood issues here. This is how we get advocating for this . I didnt advocate to defund the police. But you did defund them come 15 million budget cut in 2020. So mad and they are, what would you say to the the lawabidg citizens in washington, d. C. Who because of policies you have support have been unable to defend themselves with this rife in crime . Congresswoman, i dont have to come here to talk to you to talk to the residents of the district of columbia. I talked to them daily. I have and speed is what i tell them as their mayor, regardless of whats happening nationally, regardless of whats happening in our very constituted criminal Justice System as their mayor i am charged with making it work. If that it is, im charging with making it work and what speeded do you think youre doing a good job with that . Because im seeing the crime is up Violent Crime is up homicides are up Police Funding is down Police Recruitment is down. So is it working . Every day we approach any vexing issue in our city, crying being among them, please recruitment being madam mayor my time is up at you know exactly what you need to make washington, d. C. Safer. You know you need more Police Officers picky pick you kd more funding. You know you need policies that allow lawabiding citizens, thank you its my time, lawabiding citizen to be able to protect themselves in their own home and defend them. You wanted to be a part of the culture war of the blm 2020 riots rather than protecting [talking over each other] and youre repeating speeded my time is expired. And im happy to repeat it as well. And what we have said, mr. Chairman, if you will permit me in that i i was over talked mh about five minutes, is that we have been very focused on how to make sure we have policy environment that supports a safe city. But also that we approach it not just with Law Enforcement but with opportunity and with prevention. Your policies are clearly making your city more dangerous, not safer. Ladies come time is expired. Recognize mr. Gohmert for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mayor bowser and chief contee if youd like to answer, is it helpful or hurtful to Police Recruitment when Police Officers are randomly shot and killed around the country . Chief. I dont, i dont think thats necessarily helpful to police recruiting. I didnt think so. This is National Police week this week, and in that vein i would like to recognize chief contee for your many years of service at the mpd and good luck in your new role with the fbi. Also all you huge debt of gratitude as well as mayor bowser but for the heroic efforts that you and your officers played in defending this capital on january 6th. It is particularly odd to me to hear my republican colleagues talk so much this week about backing the blue when they also defend so many of the january 6th defendants who violently attacked the Capitol Police and mpd and injured nearly 150 officers, including causing i to die. And it is particularly rich hearing accusations from my republican colleagues that anyone is soft on crime, considering the fact that a number of them have been to the d. C. Jail to defend those violent criminals. We are now five months into this congress. We have had, this is the ninth full hearing of this committee. This is the second of nine on washington, d. C. That is nearly a quarter of this committees time has been spent on a city of approximately 700,000 people. And. And i get it. Maybe its because the chairman is actually able to find witnesses from the washington, d. C. Government. But this is a waste of time. Chief contee, mr. Timmins earlier said he believed the morale of the mpd is down. Is it helpful or harmful to the morale of the mpd for politicians to go to the d. C. Jail to defend defendants charged with committing acts of violence against the mpd . I think politicizing policing in any way is not helpful. I wont specifically address the issue of go to a joke not go to jail, but anytime politics is injected into Law Enforcement i think that that is harmful to what our mission is. Theres been a lot of discussion about Violent Crime in the city. What percentage of the Violent Crime in the city in your estimate chief contee involves guns . So theres a significant percentage of it that involves firearms. We see that. But again when you talk about crime in the city, ive heard a lot of numbers kind of the rent in the city. I dont think theres anybody in this room that a been on more crime since then i have. When we look at it, gun crying is certainly an issue. Guns in the hands of individuals who shall not have them in our city, thats certainly something we have seen that is increased over the years. To your knowledge are any guns manufactured in washington, d. C. . There are some personally manufactured firearms, ghost guns that people are able to assemble. But aside from that there are no manufacturing places in washington, d. C. For firearms. So that means that all firearms that are used in crimes in washington, d. C. Come from other states where they are permitted to be manufactured and sold, is that right . The majority of the firearm succumbing to the district of columbia we are a consumer state much like new york city and other states, but washington, d. C. The majority of the guns come from virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, from the south up to washington, d. C. States with much more lax gun laws in washington, d. C. Come right . Whatever the gun laws are there, those firearm show up in washington, d. C. Mr. Graves am going to turn to you because you been attacked repeatedly during the string about this number of 67 and no one has given you a chance to respond. So with the rest of my time i would like for you to give whatever response you think appropriate. Thank you. I appreciate that. So again i cannot stress enough throughout the whole time. Back weve been looking at the chart that was put up, 90 of serious violent felonies were charged at the time of arrest here and i would note just because a case is not charged at the time of arrest doesnt mean its not ultimately charge. Because as often particularly with our Violent Crimes, continued investigation that gets us in in a position whee can charge the case. What we are seeing reflected in the data which is an accurate snapshot of what the office was doing around the time i came into the office was a fiveyear trend that spans three administrations and five u. S. Attorneys primarily around the issue of misdemeanors and complications with prosecuting misdemeanors, that we are trying to address and we have started to address. Are charging rates in this year are much higher than we saw last year. Thank you. I yield back. The chair recognizes mr. Palmer from alabama for five minutes. Well, mr. Chairman, i appreciate you holding the steering and trying to address a very serious issue. It has turned into another partisan debate, which is disappointing but i do want to make respond to a point that was made earlier about the taxes paid by the district of columbia relative to alabama and your state of kentucky. I just want to point out that the Median Household Income in the district of columbia is 74 higher than it is in alabama, kentucky. Yet the Household Poverty rate is higher in the district of columbia that it is in alabama and kentucky. So things need to be put in perspective. Chief conti, you might want to repeat most of the gun violence in the district of columbia is committed with illegally possess firearms, is that correct . That is correct, sir. So the district of columbia has very strict gun control laws, is that correct . Yes, sir, thats correct. Short of banning all firearms in every state and in mexico and canada, can you explain to me how passing under the law will reduce gun violence . I really dont believe in gun violence. I think my colleague mr. Higgins from louisiana address that intelligently and forthrightly that there is no such thing as gun violence. It is only human violence. These guns come most of the guns are already illegal, is that correct . That is correct. We have a number of legal firearms actually registered to District Residents come over 34,000 legally registered firearms in the district of columbia. The ones that i see, the ones that show generally on crime scenes are handguns are illegal firearms in position people who should not have been. Lawabiding residents in the district of columbia find it very, very difficult to get a concealed carry permit . I would not agree with that. Like i said with issued over 34,000. Out of a population of of those who want, want to have concealed carry permits. Reprocessing. We have a timeframe we are allotted by law to do that and generally a turnaround is roughly within most of the crime committed in the district of columbias that committed by those people with concealed carry. Most of it no, sir. Thank you for that response. Was the knife that was used to attack senator rand paul staffer a legal weapon, legally possessed weapon . You said was it a legal or illegal . Was it a legal weapon. If the plate with fog than three inches min yes, sir wouldve been an illegal weapon. But we dont have the same concern about those type weapons. The fact of the matter is that havent looked at the fbis homicide statistics in a while but theres more People Killed with a bladed instrument or a blunt instrument or personal weapons like hands and feet, by significant number that are killed with a rifle of any type you are you familiar with the statistic. Was thats that 70s e district of columbia, sir. With rifles were hankin. Was with handguns primarily and now were seeing were also seeing, like the weapons that have been converted to fully automatic were we also se show up significant amount. Are those handguns being converted to fully automatic or some of them are. Some of them are. The ghost guns, ar15 type but we see all different types. Primarily firearms in the district of columbia is a leading weapon. All of those are already illegal, greg . That is correct. So again, mr. Chairman, i think my earlier point is these hearings become partisan crap shows. I hate to say that, and we are not helping the district of columbia, by having a rational discussion whats really driving crime in our country. And weve got to get serious about this. We make guns a political issue. We make income. I become we just come up with ways to really excuse ourselves from the issue of whats driving current in the country. I think we need to get more serious about it and just gun control laws by themselves is not going to accomplish that. Mr. Chairman, think of rolling pin. I yield back. Very good points, agree completely. The chair recognizes ms. Stansberry from new mexico for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to start out by thanking madam mayor, chief contee, others are serving on the panel and to just acknowledge your service on half of our capital city and also i see a lot of very proud staff sitting behind you. Thank you for serving the people of d. C. Thank you for serving our Nations Capital. And i want to say that for one, i am deeply proud to be able to spend part of my time in the city. I lived here for seven years when i was a staffer at omb in the senate, and i know the work that you guys put in every single day to make sure that our city is well represented, that we are caring for its citizens and i find it ironic what you think of my colleagues have already touched on that my colleagues across the aisle feel comfortable calling all of these amazing Public Servants into our Nations Capital to lecture you on your jobs, but they dont feel comfortable actually supporting the citizens of d. C. To actually have a right in this voting body. But i but i also find it ira want to also echo and give snaps to my colleague gaston crockett who pointed this out, that we are talking about crime while one of our colleagues from across the aisle who has been indicted on 13 criminal counts is not only at large after being built out of a new york jail, hes Walking Around this capital voting, and the people of d. C. Did not have representation in these halls. Its outrageous. It is absolutely outrageous. I also find it ironic that we seen such a dystopian view painted of the city over the last several hours. Somebody who has lived in the city, i came here when i was a kid. Today i was walking past the Capitol Steps of us are bunch of kids under its great trip, and i was thinking about how much the city has transformed over the last several decades, and that is because of the policies, madam mayor and you and others were sitting here today, put into place, the social programs, and universal prek, investments in infrastructure. This city has literally been transformed under your leadership for good. People have come back to the city, young people want to live in the city. So one proud of the work you all are doing at a want to provide the opportunity because ive heard a lot of outrage as lecturing, a lot of misinformation and the kind of usual partisan chaos that we hear in these hearings, to give you some time to talk about the things that you care about, things that you feel congress can do to help support this city and address any issues that you need to be addressed this morning. Thank you so much for that, congresswoman, and i was kind of having the same reaction. While as mayor didnt want to see any point in your city. You definitely dont want to see increase in crime. I know that we have the tools that we need to dry it down. And while at the same time were doing that, we havent given up on the agenda that advances our city. Earlier this year released our fiveyear released our fiveyear economic develop a strategy that is focused on our come back and how we do that. We focus on a downtown for sure but also all of the wonderful neighborhood corridors all around our city that are thriving. Thank you for mentioning our children and the investments that we have made over the last 15 years in our school, which actually are attracting and keeping families in washington, d. C. We are equally proud to have the number one park system in the country, and that people in washington, everyone lives less than one mile from a Recreation Center or part. Those are the things that we continue to invest in in washington, d. C. Congress can be our partner, in that we are unique in that theres a lot of federal presence in our city, on taxable federal presence in our city, and the landscape of some of the federal leases and build its is also changing. We have great example of a partnership right in the center of washington and congresswoman, of course has helped advance the discussions around Franklin Park where we use local dollars to invest in underutilized park that is now the center of our downtown. We have done it at the wharf. We are doing it now at walter reed, saint elizabeths, and we know that we can focus on underutilized parcels elsewhere. Thank you, madam chair. I just want to add quickly on universal Early Childhood education, we actually are fortunate in new mexico in my home state to have taken the advisor from the district to help create the first universal Childcare Program in the country at the state level based on d. C. s model because its been so successful. Amazing, thank you for i want to thank you for your service and a want to thank all of you who are here today for everything you do for our city. Thank you. Yield back. That chair recognizes ms. Greene from georgia for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I think we should all refresh our memories today and remember history and who has caused the Political Violence here in washington, d. C. By remembering how may times d. C. Metro police were diploid for dangerous riots. In 2020 were nt event blm writers violently raged continuously even nearly burning down the city hundreds of Police Officers were injured and rioters destroyed millions of dollars in property. Riots went to such extreme levels in Lafayette Park the secret service forced President Trump into the white house bunker. But all of the extreme left wing violence didnt just start in 2020. No. Get started in 2017 on President Trumps inauguration day. But all you hear about is a threehour riot on one single day january 6, 2021. So. So lets talk about violent criminals and justice. Chief contee, you have said what weve got to do if we really want to see homicides go down is keep bad guys with guns in jail. When they are in jail they cant be in communities shooting people. Keep violent people in jail. Is that right, yes or no . Yes. Thank you. Mayor bowser, do you agree with chief contee . Yes or no . Yes, do people serve their sin. Yes, you agree they should stay in jail thank you very much mayor. Mr. Graves can you with the u. S. Attorney for the district of columbia. You have the unique ability to prosecute both local and federal cases. However, mr. Graves, your offe has declined to prosecute 67 f those arrested in 2022 which means they cant step into like chief contee is demanding after his Police Officers do the hard work of arresting these criminals. Instead, you are solely focused on prosecuting tenuous six cases from one single day in our history. Meanwhile, d. C. Crime is up to october client is up 27 from last year. Carjackings up 114 . Murders up 11 . Sexual abuse is up 45 . Property crime is up 30 . And just yesterday morning a little innocent 12yearold girl was shot while sleeping in her own bed by another rampant violent criminal who has probably been previously arrested and not prosecuted. What do you think a resident is more afraid of, their child catching a stray bullet on monday or a a grandma walking through the capital more than two years, two years ago . Mr. Graves come your decision to not prosecuted 67 of the crimes in d. C. Is absolutely criminal itself. People who were charged with murder have been arrested on average 11 times before, because you refuse to keep them in jail like chief contee is demanding. You have already abused your position by maliciously prosecuting at least 1000 people from january 6th, but you recently announced that youre going to arrest at least 1000 more let me remind everyone a manner in which you go about your january 6th prosecutions. A man named Matthew Perna who had no criminal record peacefully enter the capital, through an open door on january 6. He stayed inside roughly 20 minutes. He didnt assault anyone, not a Police Officer can anyone. He didnt damage any property. He fully cooperated with the fbi and eventually pled guilty to all charges. But right before his sentencing you, mr. Graves come asked the judge for more time to object to the presince reports by the way while you were not prosecuting many of the kinds in d. C. This was so that, that you would ask for at least a few more years in prison for the guy that walked around in the capital for 20 minutes, not assaulting anyone. And this is what you have done repeatedly over and over for those who pled or have been convicted on january 6th two weeks later Matthew Perna hung himself in his garage, mr. Graves. He was 37 years old. On march 9, 2022 you drop the case against Matthew Perna because he was dead. The time for weaponizing the department of Justice Needs to come to an end. Because you refuse to prosecute real criminals that are violating all the crimes in washington, d. C. And you want to talk about d. C. Residents, they are victims of your abuse of power. Because of that i am introducing articles of impeachment on you, mr. Graves, and i get back the remainder of my time. Gentlelady back. Before we recognize ms. Mesa fibers i request unanimous consent for mr. Clyde to be waived onto the committee for purposes of questioning. Without objection, so ordered. The chair recognizes ms. Mesa five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank our witnesses for being with us today. Crime is rampant in our Nations Capital, rampant and out of control like many other cities in the United States during covert and now after crime is up significantly in d. C. I read homicides were up 99 since last year. In fact, there have been more homicides in the first 120 days of 2023 of 2023 and in the same period of any year in the past decade. We are starting summer so tourism will be up. Violent crime consistently peaks from around the country this time of year as well. At the same time the d. C. Police force has lost a net of 450 officers over the last three years are almost 15 of the workforce mayor bowser i do want to recognize what you have done to get bonuses and try to hire Police Officers to the force. I myself have been a victim of some crime in d. C. Not once or twice to since ive come up here. We see this kind of thing around the country and its important that we address it. We can only lead to the imagination the kind of impression that the rampant crime is up here in d. C. , folks who come here from around the country and around the world to see the United States capital. We have foreign dignitaries, we have tourists and want to project strength and peace and safety for folks who are out here. D. C. Is outofcontrol crime has to be taken seriously must be addressed swiftly as we can. My first question today goes to mr. Graves, and ive a few yes or no questions, mr. Graves. Do you think the d. C. Council crime bill i voted to override in this jingle would have led to an increase to officer retention and hiring . Yes or no . Tension tensioner hiria question . Yes. We did have led to better officer retention and hiring . Yes no . Im not sure. Would it impact when what are the other. Do you think the public should be aware of the current happening around the neighborhoods and taken seriously . So we are very much focused on community safety. Part of speedy do you think its an of the public to be aware of the question with public should be aware of current happening in their neighborhoods . Yes. So you agree. Good thing when a a citizen be something this alexi something Say Something . Yes. Generally we want Law Enforcement or commuting of us to report crime of which they are aware. Right. A couple of days ago at the d. C. Safety summit usages going out there and kind of fear mongering and making broad claims that are not born out of date is on helplessly think when for should see the from nontraditional media sometimes. So yes or no do you think having this hearing today is mongering in d. C. . So i appreciate speedy yes or no do you think this hearing is fear mongering in d. C. Based on your comments from a few days ago . So its a speedy yes or no . Is not a yes or no. I can answer your question but it is not a yes no question. It is. I asked it. Yes or no do believe its the job of a prosecutor to represent the government to prosecute crimes on his behalf . Yes. Interesting. So then why do to bring onlya third of the cases brought to you . Why is a d. C. Police chief contee literally calling bullshit on your excuse of not prosecuting 67 of arrests . So is your chief of police fear mongering when he calls bso speedy of course the chief of police is not fearmonger but youre taking out of context and if i could provide the context i be happy to speak know im using your words directly verbatim from you. I want to finish with this, this afternoon. D. C. Is a lot like a charleston. If the city that a lot of charm, a city by which Many Americans judge our country and we have high rate of tourism and charleston, south carolina, and charlson takes its crime seriously and it is built a community that many want to visit, many want to join just like washington, d. C. But the same cannot be said of d. C. Which saddens many of us here today. And i want to recognize mayor again for your efforts with your police force to add more police, more needs to be done and if sure you recognize that as well. Thank you and i yield back. Lady yields back. Mr. Chairman, is a possible for me to respond to tourism issues . Who go ahead briefly play. Its been mentioned by fco members concern about tourists, and tourism is not about fun and games in d. C. It is a real part of our bottom line, and welcoming visitors to our city allows us to make the types of investment that we are proud of. We are very proud that we are rebounding from precovid in the number of people visiting the district of columbia. From around our region, from around the country, and increasingly International Travel is up and we know with better geza management will see even more travelers coming from around the world visa people should be concerned about our tourism numbers. They are on the rise. We remain concerned about business travel. So we want everybody wants to come and call on the congress about this issue or that to visit washington, d. C. To do that as well. Good to hear. Chair recognizes mr. Donald from a florida. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mayor bowser, its good to see. Chief contee, its been a while. You havent been back for two years or so. Good to see you. Mr. Donoghue, first time. Mr. Graves, breaux, if you to do your job. Leches be very clear. Obviously you have a responsibility to the residents of the district in a mood of ways, call he talked about that in some every detail there. But if youre not going to do the job of actually standing behind chief contee and the work that is meant and women do with the metropolitan Police Department and you are slowing them down a river and with them the residents of d. C. And even the tourist that come to d. C. But you know theyre the ones that live here. They ride the bus. They get on the metro. Theyre going to school. Theyre going to work. What everybody wants is just to be safe, and youre not holding up your end of the bargain. Ive seen npd all over d. C. Theyre out there every single day. They are here. Its very clear when they are on the scene, but you are not doing your job. So i just find it to be disgusting, frankly. Just uphold the law enforced the law that actually make the jump easier for the chief and for the mayor to do their jobs. Mayor bowser, real quick, you know, when we were looking come when the Oversight Committee was investigating the january 6th, you were not here. I dont know what was going on so dont need to go down that road. But but i really had a questin about your requested troops on december come you are addressing National Guard troops on december 31, 2020, correct, correct . That sounds right but i would want to confirm the date. Thats fine. Thats fine thats fine. But based upon any recollection you have what was the rationale for requesting National Guard troops . We wanted to make sure that our city blocks were protected and the chief decided, we were in the transition week. So the chiefs decided that we want to create a traffic box around certain parts of our downtown, and the best use of resources would be National Guard instead of mpd so that mpd could be available for Law Enforcement. That was our request for support follow up to that because i remember it having gone through orientation here before i got sworn in as a member of congress, that during that time. Back to the pandemic and everything else, there was no traffic in d. C. , not like it is today, like nobody was driving through the streets of d. C. During that time period. This is a legitimate question. Was the concern purely traffic orders in addition for jane are sick. Was let me ask the chief to talk about. That would be great. So traffic is part of the concern. Certainly when we create traffic boxes, you know we are expecting a lot of people in our city. We dont want to mix people in course of creating that space for people are expressing the First Amendment rights to peaceful to be in the street on of whatever and not have or not be hindered by cars and buses moving about. I just want to reclaim my time. No disrespect to what you are saying. And my coughing, no disrespect to either. So real quick, in a letter that was sent on january 5 mayor bowser you stated the National Guard that you are accepting the support but you one thing to be in an unarmed capacity, is a credit, or chief contee can you corroborate that come is that correct . Yes. Okay all right. I thank you for that. Some of the things we just want to clarify and if it heres the over arching point. Be frank odyssey mayor bowser julie has nothing to do with you. This is a general point of what happened when and why. I think actually last question for you. Your because for National Guard troops were obviously they were, you were given whatever you need to come is that correct . We were given i believe some of what we requested. Okay. Were there any limits that came from the secretary of the army . Yes. Can anybody stipulate what that was . A couple of things. We wanted comfortable the limitation was we could not move come we could not change their assignments without first receiving approval from the secretary of the army we could not move National Guard members anywhere east of ninth st. , northwest. We couldnt move them there. Another thing we want was Quick Reaction for members of National Guard to be able to respond. I dont think we received that resource either. Yes, sir. Last point, make, mr. Chairman, alanon slightly over my time one thing that was clear in testimony at this corroborate her today is that troops from National Guard were authorized by the president at the time donald trump on january 4. They were authorized. This test but in this committee they were authorized. D. C. Was able to take avenge of them in a capacity the d. C. Wanted save with a couple request you also want to. One think its important to indicate, mr. Chairman, is at for National Guard troops to deployed for the capital requires a Capitol Police Board Election issue a state of emergency for troops to come on capitol grounds, and the police board is made up of the architect of the capitol, the head of senate security, the head of house security and the chief of the Capitol Police. And by my understanding three of those four people reported to the speaker of the house. The speaker of the house at the time was nancy pelosi. So when we want to talk with National Guard being in the timetable of them getting your its important to understand that the were National Guard in the district of columbia and the limitation of coming to the capital was not due to anybody else because the president is not authorized to deploy troops to the capital, separation of powers. It is at the hands of the speaker of the house. And with that ideal and apologized for being a minute and 24 over. Gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes mr. Session from tech and survive this. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Chairman comer, i want to thank you for your not only meeting with of these republicans before the sharing but expressing your confidence that you believe that we could have a thoughtful meeting today with the representatives that would be here, and that the words of confidence that you spoke with the mayor about her job and how this committee could thoughtfully have a conversation today. Its my hope we will continue have that conversation. I recognize youve been you are a number of hours, each of you, and thank you. Some of the points we have heard is that people on our side were republicans dont care about washington, d. C. , that we dont take time to come and walk the streets and talk to people well, perhaps they could be some evidence of that, but also my parents for over 20 years lived here and my mother and my father both engaged washington, d. C. Elected officials. I believe tried to provide feedback, and they did to my peers, and i was a part of those conversations. And i would like to say that there is great confidence that we want to have in working with you. And i think thats evidenced by you being here today. Mayor, i serve as the subcommittee chairman for Government Operations here we have been in discussions and in ten to have conversations with the federal government about bringing people back to work. I dont need to go through the facts of the case today, but the bottom line is the federal government is lagging in our opinion of getting people back to work, back to work is i think not just healthy but we have so many problems with passports and government, the irs and a lot of other agencies in performance of their duties that are necessary to the american people. So we will be doing that. I want to just perhaps provide some context. We have just come off being in the minority for four years. We had an opportunity when we were in the minority to help work and craft our colleagues him sometimes lettuce and sometimes shared sometimes did not share not sure so well. But the agenda was definitely on the side of the Speaker Nancy Pelosi and those who would be chairman of the committees. Their agenda is virtually our agenda today. That is, that we are trying to make sure that the city of washington, d. C. Has a relationship with us whereby we provide feedback and we try and look at the things that are done. To gather. We do recognize we are in running a city is hard. We do recognize however or believe that just like the bipartisan piece of legislation that we did when we disagreed with the d. C. City council could not have come at a worse time, based upon the assault on one of our members. And, and that that created an error of lawlessness in the city. Please note this, we would like to work with you. However, we would like for you to have an equal knowledge that marijuana in its simplest form is indicative problem and remembers come d. C. Members who are in your police force and others should recognize that there are things being mixed in marijuana, there are hallucinogens, there are problems that we have and youre going to keep having Violent Crime if you keep having the positions that you take on allowing marijuana to be openly smoked pig because it is easily infiltrated so to speak. It can be changed, but it all by itself is an addictive, dangerous product, and theres more than enough National Information out here. It creates psychosis. It creates a lot of real problems. Who are the losers in this . Women and children. Women and children get the brunt of this problem. And i would like to just face all for if you and say, you need to tell the truth. You need to tell people the truth because they know it, and youll keep being the drug haven, a crime haven, and a gun haven if you continue what you, how you approach drugs in the city of washington, d. C. I am very to allowing you, not, you dont have to do it at this forum, but that engagement and expected to come from the Government Operations subcommittee, the engagement on Public Safety and the safety of women and children. Mr. Chairman, i want to thank you for the time. I know im over here at my special thanks to all four of you for taking time to respectfully, thoughtfully take time to articulate your ideas with the group of people who care about you. I feel back went on. The chair recognizes mr. Clyde for five minutes. Thank you, chairman comer come for letting me participate today. I greatly appreciate this opportunity. Mayor bowser, you vetoed the revised criminal code act passed by the d. C. City council, correct . Correct. All right. And i suppose because you disagree with some of the soft on crime provisions of the d. C. Council include in the legislation, is that correct . Outlined by objections and also submitted an amendment that would address my objection to the d. C. Council. Okay, thank you. As i recall you stated the revised criminal code act and a court does not make us safer. I have to say i agree with you. And im pleased that Congress Passed a resolution h. J. Res 26 to nullify that misguided bill and im grateful that with President Biden signature we prevented the radical rcc a from becoming law. Mayor bowser i noticed you did not veto the comprehensive policing and Justice Reform emergency Amendment Act but you did not find either, correct . Thats correct. All right. So as i understand the Police Reform and lets call it that come legislation moved forward without your signature. Thats correct. So why did you not signed or veto it . I did not sign it because i knew that we would have to revisit some of the provisions with the council. There are, ive been mayor eight years. I think ive vetoed eight bills so there may be an all of the legislation that has gone through and i signed are not signed in those years things that i agree with or things that i dont. I sometimes will leave my signature off if i i know than going to have to revisit a provision with the council. Okay. Well thank you. I think that maybe folks of the city and those of us who actually do vote dont find it acceptable that you dont take a stand and what a piece of legislation says. You dont approve it or you dont disapprove of. You just let me finish. Let me finish. So Council Earlier in this era, mayor bowser, you said theres no greater support of the metro Police Department than you. And so by not signing this bill or not vetoing it you consider yourself the greater support of the metro Police Department. Chief contee would you agree with the statement that the mayor is a greater come no greater support in the city and the mayor . I have been dealing with this mayor for the last eight years that shes been mayor and she is a great supporter of our Law Enforcement officers. Okay. I think thats a pretty low bar, chief. Now, attorney grace, United States attorney grace, question for you. Representative mason earlier she asked the question should communities be made aware of the crime in the neighborhood . You said yes, affirmatively. Am i correct . Yes. I agree with you. In 2016 the department of justice provided senator grassley with criminal prosecution data from 20 can2015. This is. This is actual letter right hear, hear it says in response to your request for the data regarding arrest for offenses of homicide rate, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, Motor Vehicle theft and arson we provided the data for the d. C. Code offenses the best corresponds to your request. So when you commit here today to providing the prosecutions statistics exactly as you did to senator grassley to this committee for the last seven years 2016 through 2020 . So im generally familiar with the letter but actualization datatype when it wasnt in the office. Thats fine. I can tell you what were planning on doing. I mean, you can do this, right . You have the statistics to do it. Are you willing to do it . I want to see the criminal statistics the prosecutions statistics from 2016 through 2022. Will you provide it. I understand the question. I want to explain of what were planning on doing. So the challenge that our office has a stroke the face, a lot of this data isnt readily available because of our and criticism so weve had to manually pulled information. I fired a Data Scientist so we can more effectively do there were going to start monthly publishing of a prosecutorial statistics. I will be happy youll go back to its was 162020 and provided to this committee . Were going to do it real time going for. Antacid that we do it for 20162022 . Thats my question to you. So speed is yes or no to suffice. Look, these are tradeoffs. If are going to go back if a clinical back into the historical analysis that we do by hand have to take people away from current prosecutions in order to do a historical analysis. I focus on where the numbers are because that informs me a procedural strategies but it also tells us where you are and how successful you have been what you decide to do or not to do when it comes to prosecutions. Prosecutions. Will you provide this information to the committee . So of course were happy to look into the request if we can review the letter and see what we can pull together. Happy to provide you a copy of the letter. You will provide us the statistics. The time of the gentleman has expired. Did you feel free to answer the question. We of course want to provide information to the committee that would be helpful to its oversight exercises. That concludes our questioning. Portion. Now youll to the Ranking Member for brief closing remark. I want to thank so many residents of washington, d. C. Cryptor out today. Thank them for the democratic patience as they await approval of their petition for stated and i see that one of the stated senators for the district of columbias here, paul strauss. I want to thank them for being here. Mr. Chairman, this steering was about governance and everything i heard from the witnesses argues for statehood, which is how we put people on a plane of the quality and political selfgovernment in america. And so stated is an imperative of basic Democratic Values but also of governmental efficiency. We have heard a lot of criticism the date of the department of justice and just attorneys office. I havent heard much about the d. C. Government. The people of washington, d. C. Dont control their own judges. They dont elect judges the way lots of people do in different states and jurisdictions. They dont elect prosecutors who prosecute felony crimes took so much of the question was about that. Thats going to a federal official. Without regard to the merits of those particular complaints, they just dont relate to the people of d. C. But if d. C. Became a state as are seeking to do like 37 other states have done, have been admitted since the founder of the republic, then it would be completely responsible for the crime situation, the prisons, prosecutions, so on, except for those things, that minority of crimes that are prosecuted by the u. S. Attorney. But if this was a hearing about crime, then what ive heard from multiple people is that it should just focus on one city. It should focus on all the cities and towns and all of the state of america. And that means we have to confront gun violence, which is, in fact, a crime. Yes, if you want to be tough on crime then youve got to be tough on gun violence. If you want to be soft on gun violence, and your soft on crime. Because we are losing thousands of our people every year to the nightmare of gun violence, which is now causing foreign governments to issue travel advisory warnings for people to come to the United States saying that we have a gun violence problem that is dangerous. The statehood petition which congresswoman norton has introduced makes all the sense in the world. It has congress using our power under article 1, section 8 clause 17 the district clause power to modify the boundaries of the federal district. Congress did that in 1846 right before the civil war, apparently according to historians at the behest of slave masters in virginia who were nervous that slavery was going to be abolished in the district of columbia. The slave trafficker in fact, they write about that. And you know who was the person pushing for the abolition of the slave traffic in the district of columbia . It was the founder of the germans party, abraham lincoln, in a single term in the house of representatives that was the main thing he was doing, trying to abolish slavery in the Nations Capital. But the slave masters of virginia, they feared it and they got congress to retro seed all of the land in alexandria, arlington and Fairfax County back to the commonwealth of virginia, which establish precisely the president that is being invoked here which is congress has the power to modify the boundaries of the federal district. If we had the power to do it in the 19th century to protect the slave masters can certainly where the power to do it in the 21st century to vindicate the democratic rights of the people of washington, d. C. Thats the real historical imperative here, and we should work on crime as a national problem. I want to thank the mayor and achieve for everything that they are doing in washington and the u. S. Attorney for everything theyre doing in d. C. There are things the other states can learn from d. C. And certainly things that d. C. Can learn from the other states, but crime should never be an opportunity to demonize and vilify a whole population of american citizens and their leadership. But i think the mayor, you have led a very distinguished team of officials here and acquitted yourself beautifully and explain all of the great progress has been happening in washington, not just in terms of crime but in terms of other public policies, too. So thank you for coming and thank you once again for rising to the defense of the union and the republic on january 6, and we absolutely need to give the district of Columbia Power over its National Guard. We wouldve been a lot safer had you been deploying the National Guard when you deployed the metropolitan Police Department three hours before the president of the United States did. I yield back. Gentleman yields back and again of what you think the for being here or i think this was a very substantive committee hearing. Mayor, as a set at an earlier meeting, i pledge to work with you. The majority on this committee wants to work with you. We want to see washington, d. C. Grow, prosper, and be one of the safest cities on the planet. This committee has a history of republican chairs working with the democrat mayors for the betterment of washington, d. C. You go back to tom davis when he was chairman of this committee, jason chaffetz, even mark meadows worked closely with democrat mayors. Because as ive stated in our opener, this committee is tasd with jurisdiction over washington, d. C. We all spend i guess that the majority of our time in washington, d. C. For our jobs, so obviously we have a vested interest in seeing the Washington City grow and prosper and be safe. Chief, we want to thank you for your service. We appreciate the service you and your colleagues, and we pledge to do whatever we can to help you be successful. And mr. Graves, as you heard criticism from this side of the aisle, crime is a priority for this committee. Crime is one of the issues that we campaigned on to flip the house, to take out some democratic majority to republican majority. We are not satisfied with your Job Performance in washington, d. C. We have seen the statistics. Weve seen the data. Its just not, one of the problems with the crime in america is where prosecutors who are behind or sympathetic or liberal or lazy, or whatever, maybe even dont have the resources to effectively keep up with prosecutions. Please let us know. We want to see that happen. From listening to the committee and your testimony, who said several things that caught my attention. Taxing of marijuana for example, i didnt know what the law was on that, we are researching that. I know you have a lot of issues coming forth, opportunities in washington d. C. , a new arena. I know that would require legislative assistance, thats something wed pledge to work with you in your office on that i think would be beneficial to the city. Certainly legislation to help keep criminals in jail, we want to hold criminals accountable for wrongdoing, that will be a priority for this house majority. Last, the act that i supported, had democrat opposition to the bill that i think this would help hold washington d. C. , you have this Ripple Effect of businesses suffering i understand commercial real estate occupancy is down. It all pertains to Business Model in Downtown Washington built around employees showing up for work every day. We want to them, to work and thats why we passed the show up act and would welcome your support with senator schumer. I think is great opportunity to Work Together this committee in the Mayors Office in u. S. Attorney, we want to see what happened and i look forward to that relationship moving forward. With that and without objection, numbers will have five legislative days to submit additional written requests which would be forwarded to the witnesses for their own response. If theres no further business, the committee stands adjourned. [background noises] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the senate is in today working on repeal of washington d. C. Police reform law. Patient band chokehold and improves access to body one camera. About to reveal the measure 2 30 p. M. Eastern when the senate returns, watch live coverage here on cspan2. Cspan is your unfiltered view of government funded by these Television Companies and more including midco