00:00Hi, how are you? Good afternoon. Thank you all for being here. The RSC Article 1 task force is
00:07leading efforts to restore Congress's constitutional authority as the legislative branch responsible
00:13for passing laws in this country. One of Congress's authorities is the constitutional responsibility
00:20for overseeing the governance of the District of Columbia. For years now, the D.C. City Council
00:26has not only prioritized left-wing policies and programs, but intentionally sought to hide their
00:32activities from Congress. It is a new day in D.C., however, and Congress intends to once again assert
00:38its authority to ensure that Washington, D.C. rightfully reflects and represents this great nation
00:45on the national and international stage. President Trump's unyielding leadership and strength, coupled
00:51with proper congressional oversight, ensures that Washington, D.C. will reclaim its rightful
00:57place as the shining symbol of American strength and dignity. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the
01:05Constitution states that the seat of government doctrine grants Congress plenary legislative
01:11authority over the District of Columbia as the federal capital. The Founding Fathers wanted the
01:17nation's capital to be free from disproportionate influence of any single state and the influence
01:23of states generally. In 1973, Congress granted D.C. limited home rule authority through the District
01:30of Columbia Self-Government Reorganization Act, also called the Home Rule Act. In the Home Rule Act,
01:37Congress reserves the right at any time to exercise its constitutional authority as legislature for the
01:44district, which includes the right to review and block local legislation before it takes effect.
01:51It has now become necessary for Congress to exercise such authority. Why? Because the D.C. City Council is
01:58seeking to exercise its authority not for the best interests of its citizens or the broader community,
02:04but for political purposes. Today, the Political City Council is using special legislation not for
02:11emergencies, but in response to the Trump administration's effort to bring law and order to D.C. and to
02:17circumvent Congress's authority. For example, in March, the City Council enacted a temporary law codifying
02:25Chevron deference in D.C. in the city courts in an effort to avoid the effects of the United States
02:32Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright. I filed H.R. 3766 to repeal the special law and prohibit such future
02:41laws. Another example, one month after President Trump signed his EO, making the District of Columbia
02:48safe and beautiful, the City Council implemented a temporary law to amend the open meeting requirements
02:55to allow it to meet in secret. The City Councilman during the hearing indicated that they wanted to
03:01meet in secret in response to congressional and presidential oversight of their failed city policies.
03:07In response, Senator Lee and I introduced two bills, one to exercise congressional disapproval
03:14and block this law, and also one to create an expedited period of congressional review over special
03:21legislation. Section 740, the emergency control of police in the D.C. Home Rule Act grants the
03:29President of the United States the ability to mobilize the Metropolitan Police Force when it's determined that
03:36special conditions of an emergency nature exist for federal purposes for a period not to exceed 30
03:42days unless further extended by Congress. President Trump has lawfully exercised this law.
03:49On August 11th, President Trump issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the D.C.
03:56National Guard. While governors control their state guards, the D.C. mayor does not control the D.C.
04:03Guard, which is under the control of the President. D.C. has seen major improvements in the incidents of
04:09crime in the last three weeks with the help of federal intervention. Homicide rates are down by 38%.
04:16Robbery is down by 62%. The total violent crime is down 45%, and carjackings are down 78%.
04:25Other governors and mayors should look at these improvements and welcome support from the government
04:30to keep their citizens safe. It is up to the governor of each state to decide if deployment of their
04:36National Guard is needed to help decrease violence and prioritize safety. It is important to note that
04:43ICE and other federal law enforcement has jurisdiction over illegal alien crimes everywhere in this country,
04:49and those governors and mayors do not have the legal right to declare their jurisdictions to be
04:55Sanctuaries from federal law. I'm Harriet Hageman. I represent the great state of Wyoming. I am the
05:01Chairman of the Article I Task Force, and I now turn it over to Chairman Pflueger of the RSC.
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