Bill Summary
This legislation proposes to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in order to grant Congress the power to disapprove emergency legislation enacted by the District of Columbia Council. This would create an expedited process for Congress to review and potentially reject emergency legislation, preventing it from taking effect. The amendment would require the Council to transmit any emergency legislation to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate within 3 days of enactment, and it would only take effect if no joint resolution of disapproval is enacted within 90 days. This proposed change would give Congress more oversight and control over emergency legislation in the District of Columbia.
Possible Impacts
1. Delays in implementing emergency legislation: The proposed legislation would require the District of Columbia to follow an expedited congressional disapproval procedure for any emergency legislation that is enacted. This could potentially delay the implementation of necessary legislation and affect people who are in urgent need of the legislation's provisions.
2. Increased involvement of Congress in District of Columbia affairs: The proposed legislation would give Congress more power to review and potentially block emergency legislation enacted by the District of Columbia. This could limit the autonomy of the District and could potentially affect how people in the District are governed.
3. Confusion and uncertainty for the District of Columbia government: The proposed legislation includes several amendments to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which could cause confusion and uncertainty for the District of Columbia government. This could affect people who rely on the government for services and support.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2404 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2404
To subject emergency legislation enacted by the District of Columbia
Council to expedited congressional disapproval procedures.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 23, 2025
Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To subject emergency legislation enacted by the District of Columbia
Council to expedited congressional disapproval procedures.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF EMERGENCY DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
LEGISLATION.
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is amended--
(1) in section 412(a) (sec. 1-204.12(a), D.C. Official
Code), in the fifth sentence, by inserting after ``ninety
days'' the following: ``, unless a joint resolution of
disapproval is enacted under section 604 before the expiration
of that period''; and
(2) in section 602(c) (sec. 1-206.02(c), D.C. Official
Code)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking
``any act which the Council determines,
according to section 412(a), should take effect
immediately because of emergency
circumstances,''; and
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking
``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraphs
(2) and (3)'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3)(A) In the case of any such Act transmitted by the Chairman
which the Council determines according to section 412(a) should take
effect immediately because of emergency circumstances, the Act shall
take effect immediately upon enactment.
``(B) The Chairman of the Council shall transmit an Act described
in subparagraph (A) to--
``(i) the Speaker of the House of Representatives not later
than 3 session days (with respect to the House of
Representatives) after the date of enactment of the Act; and
``(ii) the President of the Senate not later than 3 session
days (with respect to the Senate) after the date of enactment
of the Act.''.
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