U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules

06/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2025 14:47

Foxx Opening Remarks on H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096, and S. 331

As prepared for delivery:

Good afternoon, the Committee will come to order.

Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.

Before we get into the bulk of today's business before the Committee, I'm going to say a few words about the lawlessness and rioting on the part of protestors in Los Angeles over the last few days in response to ICE upholding the rule of law.

Every aspersion and wild characterization in the book have been thrown around online and within the media by those who have obvious animus towards this Administration.

This is nothing new - we've heard the same crowing for months by these same people.

But here's what so many refuse to acknowledge, let alone accept: we are a nation of laws.

If you come into our nation illegally, you are breaking the law.

If you overstay your visa and refuse to return to your own country, you are breaking the law.

No one is objecting to the right to peacefully protest. That right is historic and enshrined in the First Amendment and we should all support that.

But what is not enshrined in the Constitution is what we have seen over the past few days in LA - people setting cars on fire, pelting federal agents and their vehicles with all manner of projectiles, and committing criminal acts that would land you in jail within the snap of a finger.

The failure of both state and local officials to support the faithful execution of our laws is appalling.

I'm sure our Democrat colleagues will attempt to pivot the conversation away from this lawlessness and direct their deeply harbored grievances towards an Administration that's simply working to protect the safety and security of Americans.

As President Trump said, order will be restored, and these riots will be put to an end. And now, on to our business today in the Rules Committee.

Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider four separate measures: H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096, and S. 331.

H.R. 884 prohibits individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 .

Let me make one thing abundantly clear: the only individuals who should be voting in American elections are American citizens.

That's just a cold, hard fact that some cannot stomach.

Last May, during the 118th Congress, the House passed an identical version of H.R. 884 on a bipartisan basis.

Given that the Senate did not take up this legislation, and the District of Columbia's noncitizen voting law having gone into effect, we are here to correct this issue immediately.

H.R. 2056, the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025 , requires the District of Columbia to comply with all federal immigration laws.

This legislation removes the District of Columbia's sanctuary jurisdiction laws and requires strict compliance with lawful detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as the Department of Homeland Security.

The D.C. City Council has a history of thumbing its nose at federal agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that are responsible for protecting national security and the safety and wellbeing of the American people.

For example, in 2020, the Council enacted the Sanctuary Values Amendment Act.

This prevents D.C. from learning about the immigration status of someone in custody and prevents the release of an individual for the purpose of transferring the person to a federal immigration agency.

As the nation's capital, the District of Columbia should set a serious example that harboring illegal aliens, and obstructing the work of federal law enforcement, is not an option.

It's time to end these sanctuary policies once and for all so that law and order can truly be restored.

H.R. 2096, the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act , restores due process rights of officers who are part of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and helps to confront crime in Washington, D.C.

This legislation addresses two separate aims:

  • Restoring collective bargaining rights for MPD officers on disciplinary matters; and
  • Reinstating a statute of limitations on disciplinary cases to prevent indefinite investigations that undermine officer retention and recruitment.

The D.C. City Council's anti-police policies have led to a serious reduction in force within MPD, and as a direct result, these officers do not have the support necessary to carry out their jobs and duties on a day-to-day basis.

H.R. 2096 will change this by providing MPD with those resources that will lead to the recruitment of high-quality officers in the nation's capital who will ensure that law and order is maintained and that residents and visitors to the nation's capital are kept safe.

Finally, regarding S. 331, the HALT Fentanyl Act , we are working to tie a bow on this piece of legislation - that has gained substantive bipartisan support - and are very much looking forward to shipping it directly to President Trump's desk for his signature.

With that, I look forward to today's discussion, and I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make.

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