Bill Summary
The "Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act" aims to enhance the aesthetic appeal and safety of the District of Columbia through the establishment of a beautification program and the formation of the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission.
### Key Provisions:
1. **Beautification Program**: The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with developing a program within 30 days of enactment, focusing on the cleanliness and maintenance of public spaces, monuments, and facilities in the District. This includes restoring damaged public monuments and removing graffiti, while also encouraging private sector involvement.
2. **Commission Establishment**: The Act creates the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission, comprising representatives from various federal and local agencies. This Commission is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the beautification program and coordinating efforts among different government entities.
3. **Functions of the Commission**: The Commission will recommend actions related to law enforcement, immigration policies, and crime reduction initiatives. It aims to enhance public safety, support police recruitment and retention, and address issues like fare evasion in public transit.
4. **Reporting Requirements**: The Secretary must submit annual progress reports to relevant congressional committees, while the Commission will also report on its activities and make legislative recommendations.
5. **Termination Date**: Both the beautification program and the Commission are set to expire on January 2, 2029.
Overall, the legislation seeks to improve the cleanliness and safety of the District of Columbia, emphasizing collaboration between federal and local authorities.
Possible Impacts
The "Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act" could affect people in various ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Improved Public Spaces**: The establishment of a beautification program may lead to cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing public areas in the District of Columbia. This could enhance the quality of life for residents and create a more welcoming environment for tourists. Clean parks, well-maintained monuments, and vibrant public spaces can foster community engagement and encourage outdoor activities, positively impacting mental and physical health.
2. **Increased Law Enforcement Presence**: The Act mandates the collaboration of various federal and local law enforcement agencies to enhance safety and security in the District. This increased presence could lead to reduced crime rates, making residents feel safer in their neighborhoods and public areas. However, it might also raise concerns among some community members regarding policing practices and the potential for over-policing, particularly in historically marginalized communities.
3. **Community Involvement and Economic Opportunities**: The program encourages private sector participation in beautification efforts. This could lead to new business opportunities and job creation within the community, particularly in landscaping, maintenance, and related services. Additionally, community engagement in beautification projects may foster a sense of ownership and pride in local neighborhoods, encouraging residents to take an active role in their environment and support local businesses.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2748 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 155
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2748
To establish a program to beautify the District of Columbia and to
establish the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 9, 2025
Mr. Schmitt introduced the following bill; which was read the first
time
September 10, 2025
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to beautify the District of Columbia and to
establish the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Make the District of Columbia Safe
and Beautiful Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the District
of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission established under
section 4(a).
(3) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the program
developed under section 3(a)(1).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. PROGRAM TO BEAUTIFY THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a program to
beautify the District of Columbia.
(2) Consultation.--The Secretary, when establishing the
Program, shall consult with each of the following:
(A) The Attorney General.
(B) The Secretary of Transportation.
(C) The Mayor of the District of Columbia.
(D) The United States Attorney for the District of
Columbia.
(E) The Administrator of General Services.
(F) The heads of such other Federal departments and
agencies and District of Columbia officials as the
Secretary deems appropriate.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program is to establish a plan for
Federal and local officials to--
(1) coordinate, and maintain, the cleanliness of Federal
and District of Columbia facilities, monuments, land, public
spaces, sidewalks, parks, highways, roads, transit systems, and
other commonly visited areas within the District of Columbia,
including through the removal of graffiti;
(2) restore Federal public monuments, memorials, statues,
markers, and similar properties that have been damaged or
defaced or inappropriately removed or changed; and
(3) encourage private sector participation in the efforts
of the Program.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Oversight and
Government Reform and on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report that includes a summary of the progress made
toward achieving the purpose of the Program as described in subsection
(b).
(d) Sunset.--This section, and the Program established by this
section, shall terminate on January 2, 2029.
SEC. 4. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the executive branch a
District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be comprised of
representatives of each of the following entities:
(A) The Department of the Interior.
(B) The Department of Transportation.
(C) The Department of Homeland Security.
(D) The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(E) The United States Marshals Service.
(F) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives.
(G) The United States Attorney's Office for the
District of Columbia.
(H) The United States Attorney's Office for the
District of Maryland.
(I) The United States Attorney's Office for the
Eastern District of Virginia.
(J) Such other entities of the Federal Government
as may be determined by the Chair of the Commission.
(2) Designation of members.--Not later than 45 days after
the date of enactment of this section (or, in the case of an
entity described in subsection (b)(1)(J), not later than 45
days after the Chair of the Commission designates the entity),
the head of each entity described in subsection (b)(1) shall
designate a representative of that entity to serve as the
representative of the entity on the Commission.
(c) Chair.--
(1) Designation.--Not later than 45 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the President shall designate a
senior level official from the Executive Office of the
President to serve as the Chair of the Commission.
(2) Functions.--The Chair of the Commission shall perform
functions that include the following:
(A) Developing a schedule of meetings for the
Commission.
(B) Designating entities who shall be represented
on the Commission under subsection (b)(1)(J).
(C) In consultation with the members of the
Commission, developing a charter for the Commission
and, not later than 7 days after the date on which the
charter is completed, submitting the charter to the
appropriate committees of Congress.
(d) Functions and Authorities.--
(1) Functions.--The functions of the Commission are to
recommend actions, and review the effectiveness of such
actions, with respect to the following:
(A) Developing and encouraging the implementation
of polices that will direct the maximum enforcement of
Federal immigration law within the District of
Columbia, including policies to encourage the
redirection of available Federal, State, or local law
enforcement resources to apprehend and deport illegal
aliens.
(B) Monitoring the District of Columbia's sanctuary
city status and compliance with the enforcement of
Federal immigration law.
(C) Facilitating the prompt and complete
accreditation of the District of Columbia's forensic
crime laboratory.
(D) In collaboration with its leadership and union,
ensuring that the Metropolitan Police Department of the
District of Columbia is provided with assistance to
facilitate the recruitment, retention, and capabilities
of its officers and facilitating the provision of
Federal personnel, resources, and expertise to reduce
crime.
(E) Collaborating with appropriate local government
entities to provide assistance to increase the speed
and lower the cost of processing concealed carry
license requests in the District of Columbia.
(F) Reviewing and, as appropriate, recommending
revisions to Federal prosecutorial policies on pretrial
detention of criminal defendants to ensure that
individuals who pose a genuine threat to public safety
are detained to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(G) Collaborating with appropriate local government
entities to provide assistance to end fare evasion and
other crime within the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority system.
(H) Facilitating the deployment of a more robust
Federal law enforcement presence, and in coordination
with local law enforcement agencies, facilitating the
deployment of a more robust local law enforcement
presence (as appropriate) within the District of
Columbia, including the National Mall and Memorial
Parks, museums, monuments, Lafayette Park, Union
Station, Rock Creek Park, Anacostia Park, the George
Washington Memorial Parkway, the Suitland Parkway, and
the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
(2) Coordination with other authorities.--The Commission
may, to the extent permitted by law, request operational
assistance from and coordinate with Federal and local officials
as appropriate, including the Metropolitan Police Department of
the District of Columbia, the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority, the United States Park Police, and the
Amtrak Police.
(e) Report.--The Commission shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report that includes a summary of the
functions and authorities carried out pursuant to subsection (d), and
shall include in the report such recommendations for legislation as the
Commission considers appropriate.
(f) Sunset.--This section, and the Commission established by this
section, shall terminate on January 2, 2029.
Calendar No. 155
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2748
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to beautify the District of Columbia and to
establish the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 10, 2025
Read the second time and placed on the calendar