H.R.5103 — Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act of 2025
House Roll Call
H.R.5103
| Bill | H.R.5103 — Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act of 2025 |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Motion to Recommit |
| Vote type | Yea-and-Nay |
| Result | Failed |
| Totals | Yea 207 / Nay 214 / Present 0 / Not Voting 11 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 0 | 213 | 0 | 4 |
| D | 207 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| I | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Motion to Recommit
Bill Analysis
The Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act of 2025 (H.R. 5103, 119th Congress) is a D.C.-focused public safety and urban environment bill that conditions federal support and modifies District authorities to improve safety, cleanliness, and quality of life in Washington, D.C.
The bill directs the District of Columbia government—principally the Mayor, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Department of Public Works (DPW), and related agencies—to implement enhanced crime-prevention, code-enforcement, and beautification measures. It ties federal funding and certain Home Rule authorities to D.C.’s adoption and enforcement of stricter standards on public disorder, property maintenance, and environmental cleanliness (e.g., litter, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, and nuisance properties).
Key provisions typically include:
- Public safety measures: Encouraging or requiring stronger enforcement against violent and property crime, open-air drug markets, and repeat offenders; possible adjustments to pretrial, sentencing, or diversion policies as they apply in the District.
- Cleanliness and beautification: Expanded authority and/or mandates for DPW and related agencies to remove trash, graffiti, encampments, and derelict structures; streamlined processes for abatement and cost recovery from property owners.
- Federal-D.C. coordination: Enhanced coordination between D.C. agencies and federal entities (e.g., U.S. Park Police, Architect of the Capitol, GSA, National Park Service) on safety and maintenance of federal property and surrounding public space.
- Funding and grants: Authorization of targeted federal grants or reprogramming of existing D.C.-related federal funds to support policing, sanitation, lighting, streetscape improvements, and community-based safety initiatives, often contingent on performance benchmarks or compliance with specified policies.
Beneficiaries include D.C. residents, commuters, businesses, and visitors, as well as federal institutions located in the District. Regulated or more closely supervised parties include D.C. executive agencies, property owners, and individuals engaged in criminal or nuisance conduct.
Timelines generally require D.C. to submit implementation plans and meet specified benchmarks within 6–24 months of enactment, with periodic reporting to Congress and potential adjustments or withholding of funds if compliance is not demonstrated. The bill has passed the House and awaits further action in the Senate.
Yea (207)
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
J
John Garamendi
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
C
Christian Menefee
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Nay (214)
K
Ken Calvert
S
Scott Franklin
L
Lisa McClain
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
