Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act
This bill, the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act, would create a federally run program to beautify and maintain cleanliness in the District of Columbia and establish the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission to oversee related activities. The program, to be developed by the Secretary of the Interior within 30 days of enactment, would coordinate efforts to keep federal and DC facilities, monuments, public spaces, streets, parks, transit, and other visited areas clean (including graffiti removal) and to restore damaged monuments. It also seeks private sector involvement. The bill creates a Commission in the executive branch with representation from multiple federal agencies and nearby U.S. Attorneys’ offices to advise on and coordinate enforcement and safety-related actions in DC, including immigration enforcement priorities, crime reduction efforts, law enforcement staffing, and security for key areas like the National Mall and WMATA. Both the program and the Commission have a sunset date of January 2, 2029, and the Commission would report to Congress on its activities and recommendations.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a Program to Beautify DC
- 2- The Secretary of the Interior must develop a DC beautification program within 30 days of enactment, in consultation with federal, DC, and other officials.
- 3- Goals include coordinating cleanliness of federal and DC facilities and public spaces, graffiti removal, restoring damaged monuments, and encouraging private sector participation.
- 4- A progress report is due annually to specified Senate and House committees, with a full progress summary.
- 5Establishes the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission
- 6- An executive-branch Commission is created, with members from federal agencies (e.g., DOI, DOT, DHS, FBI, USMS, ATF) and U.S. Attorney offices for DC, MD, and the Eastern District of Virginia, plus other entities as designated.
- 7- The President would designate a senior White House official as Chair, who would set meeting schedules and develop a charter to be shared with Congress.
- 8Commission Functions and Authorities
- 9- Recommends and reviews actions on a broad set of public-safety and policy issues, including:
- 10- Enforcing federal immigration law in DC and monitoring sanctuary city status.
- 11- Accrediting DC’s forensic crime laboratory.
- 12- Supporting DC police recruitment and capabilities, including possible deployment of Federal personnel and resources to reduce crime.
- 13- Expediting and reducing the cost of concealed carry license processing.
- 14- Reviewing pretrial detention policies to detain dangerous individuals when permitted by law.
- 15- Addressing fare evasion and crime in WMATA (Washington Metro) systems.
- 16- Facilitating a stronger federal and local law-enforcement presence in DC areas like the National Mall, museums, monuments, and park areas.
- 17- May coordinate with local and federal authorities (e.g., MPD, WMATA, US Park Police, Amtrak Police) as allowed by law.
- 18Reports and Sunset
- 19- The Commission must report to Congress on its activities and provide any legislative recommendations it deems appropriate.
- 20- Both the Commission and the Program are set to terminate on January 2, 2029.