D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6372
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-14T09:07:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, H.R. 6372 titled the "D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act," aims to repeal a specific District of Columbia (D.C.) law from 2022 that addressed human rights protections. By doing so, it seeks to undo the effects of that law and restore the previous legal status.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The act is officially named the "D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act."
- Repeal Clause: It fully repeals the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 (referred to as D.C. Law 24-257).
- Restoration of Prior Law: Any parts of existing laws that were changed or removed by the 2022 D.C. act will be brought back into effect, as if the 2022 act had never passed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill directly overturns the 2022 D.C. law, which appears to have created protections or "sanctuary" measures related to human rights (likely limiting local cooperation with certain federal immigration or enforcement actions, based on the title, though specifics are not detailed here).
- It reverses amendments made by the 2022 act, effectively reinstating the legal framework that existed before 2022 in the District of Columbia.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The D.C. government may need to adjust its policies and operations, potentially increasing cooperation with federal agencies (e.g., on immigration or human rights enforcement). Federal oversight of D.C. could be strengthened through this congressional action.
- On Citizens: D.C. residents, particularly immigrants or those involved in human rights issues, might face reduced local protections, leading to greater vulnerability to federal actions like deportations or investigations.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but it could signal U.S. policy shifts on human rights enforcement, potentially affecting perceptions of the U.S. as a "sanctuary" for certain groups abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- D.C. Residents and Communities: Especially immigrant populations or advocacy groups that benefited from the 2022 protections.
- D.C. Government Officials: Local lawmakers and agencies that implemented the 2022 act, now required to revert policies.
- Federal Lawmakers and Agencies: Members of Congress (as shown by multiple co-sponsors) and entities like the Department of Justice or Homeland Security, which may gain easier access to local cooperation.
- Human Rights Organizations: Groups focused on sanctuary policies or civil liberties, who may oppose the repeal.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: As a federal law targeting a local D.C. ordinance, it exercises Congress's plenary (full) authority over the District under the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8), bypassing D.C.'s limited home rule autonomy.
- Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about the balance between federal power and local self-governance in D.C., a non-state entity without full voting representation in Congress; this could spark debates on D.C. statehood or voting rights.
- Political Implications: Introduced by a group of Republican lawmakers, it reflects partisan divides on immigration and sanctuary policies; passage could energize debates on federalism and human rights enforcement without altering broader national laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
Cosponsors (27)
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-12-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act — issued 2025-12-03 — PDF (2 pages)