House Passes Garbarino Bill to Support D.C. Police and Restore Public Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2096, the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act,by a bipartisan vote of 235-178-1. The bill, sponsored by Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), restores due process rights for Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and addresses crime in Washington, D.C.

Officer recruitment and retention remain at historic lows. MPD currently employs just over 3,100 sworn officers, down from 3,650 in 2020 and nearly 900 short of Mayor Bowser's stated goal of expanding the force to 4,000 officers. Hundreds of fewer officers on the streets have emboldened criminals, eroding public safety as well as officer morale. The District of Columbia was rated the fifth deadliest city in America in recent years. Last month alone, 20 people were shot and killed in D.C.

"The House's passage of my bill, the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act, is a critical step toward restoring law and order in Washington, D.C. The Metropolitan Police Department is facing a public safety crisis brought on by reckless policies that have stripped officers of basic protections and left the force dangerously understaffed," said Rep. Garbarino. "This legislation helps right that wrong by giving MPD the tools and support they need to recruit, retain, and protect. Congress has a duty to ensure our nation's capital is safe, and today's vote sends a clear message: we back the badge, and we refuse to let violent crime take over D.C."

"The 3,000 members of the DC Police Union wholeheartedly endorse H.R. 2096, the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act of 2025. This critical legislation restores essential collective bargaining rights and fair disciplinary protocols for our brave Metropolitan Police Department officers. By empowering our law enforcement professionals, H.R. 2096 strengthens their ability to combat rising violent crime in Washington, D.C., ensuring the safety of our residents, visitors, and workers. We urge Congress to pass this bill swiftly to support our officers and secure our nation's capital," said Gregg Pemberton, Chairman of the DC Police Union.

Cosponsors of the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Actinclude RepresentativesPete Stauber (R-MN-08), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), and John Rutherford (R-FL-05). The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The full bill text can be found here.

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