21 Dec 2016
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: At Final Legislative Meeting, D.C. Council Passes McDuffie Bills to Fight Discrimination Against Returning Citizens and Those Affected by Poor Credit

Media Advisory, , ,
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 Washington, DC – Today, the D.C. Council passed two bills reflecting Councilmember McDuffie’s priorities for working people and returning citizens. Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act of 2016 [Bill 21-706] This bill – often called “Ban the Box for Housing” – limits what aspects of a person’s criminal record housing providers from consider when evaluating an applicant for tenancy. Crimes committed more than seven years ago may not be considered and neither can arrests that did not result in a conviction. This legislation also prohibits housing providers from asking about any criminal…
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07 Dec 2016
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: Council Passes McDuffie Bills to Help Working People, Limit Corporate Campaign Contributions and Ensure Fairness to Returning Citizens

Media Advisory, ,
Washington, DC – Today, the D.C. Council passed on first reading four bills reflecting Councilmember McDuffie’s priorities for working people, families and returning citizens. Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016 [Bill 21-415] This legislation would provide eight weeks of paid family leave for parents to bond with newborn or adopted children, six weeks to care for an ailing parent or family member, and up to two weeks leave for a personal serious health condition. Upon passage at first reading, Councilmember McDuffie remarked: “This bill, while not perfect, is a step forward for workers in the District. Ward 5 suffers…
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30 Nov 2016
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: McDuffie Sends Housing and LGBT Rights Legislation to Full Council

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McDuffie Sends Housing and LGBT Rights Legislation to Full Council Trio of Bills Will “Ban the Box” in Housing; Legalize Surrogacy Agreements; and Recognize Gender Identity on Death Certificates Washington, DC – Today, the Committee on the Judiciary of the D.C. Council voted unanimously to send three bills to the full Council. Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act of 2016 [B21-0706] This bill – often called “Ban the Box for Housing” – prohibits housing providers from considering prior arrests that did not result in convictions when evaluating an applicant for tenancy. The bill also prohibits a housing provider from…
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16 Nov 2016
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: McDuffie’s Legislative Priorities Move Forward in Last Weeks of Legislative Session

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McDuffie’s Legislative Priorities Move Forward in Last Weeks of Legislative Session Bills to Support Seniors, Law Enforcement, and Rail Safety Advance Unanimously Washington, DC – Today, the D.C. Council voted unanimously to support three bills for a first vote and another for a final vote. Final Vote Sale of Synthetic Drugs Amendment Act of 2016 (Bill 21-261) – This legislation goes after those who would endanger our residents by enabling the District government to suspend or revoke the business license of any business engaged in the buying or selling of a synthetic drug. For a first violation, the Mayor must…
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25 Oct 2016
By cmmcduffie

D.C. Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act

Media Advisory,
Building a Model Juvenile Justice System in the District of Columbia The “Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016” makes sweeping reforms to the District of Columbia’s juvenile justice system. This legislation was passed unanimously by the D.C. Council in fall 2016 and became D.C. law #21-0238 in April 2017. It is fitting that this legislation was coming before the Council in October 2016, which President Obama has declared National Youth Justice Awareness month. Just as President Obama said in his proclamation: Too often in America, young people are not afforded a second chance after having made a mistake or…
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21 Oct 2016
By cmmcduffie

PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE: The State of the Metropolitan Police Department: Crime, Community Policing, and Selecting the Next Police Chief

Media Advisory, , , ,
THE STATE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: CRIME, COMMUNITY POLICING, AND SELECTING THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE Click here for a printable flyer: Nov 3 MPD Roundtable Flyer Councilmember McDuffie would like to invite you to take part in this public oversight roundtable. In this wide-ranging discussion, we invite the residents of Ward 5 and the entire District of Columbia to discuss Crime, Community Policing, and Selecting the Next Chief of Police. DATE/TIME: Thursday, November 3, 2016, 5 p.m. LOCATION: Room 412, John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 If you wish to sign up to…
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05 Oct 2016
By cmmcduffie

McDuffie’s Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Bill Advances to the Full Council

Media Advisory,
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary voted unanimously to send the “Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016” to the full Council for the first of two votes. Introduced in April by Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee, and six of his colleagues, the bill makes landmark reforms to the District of Columbia’s juvenile justice system. “This innovative legislation will help keep our children out of the justice system, reduce overincarceration, ensure age-appropriate sentencing, improve conditions of confinement, and expand oversight. Giving young people a meaningful opportunity for rehabilitation not only improves their lives,…
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27 Sep 2016
By cmmcduffie

Public Oversight Roundtable on The Office of Unified Communications: The Provision of 911 Services in the District of Columbia

Media Advisory
On Wednesday, October 5, 2016, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, will convene a public oversight roundtable on “The Office of Unified Communications: The Provision of 911 Services in the District of Columbia”. The roundtable will take place in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., at 10 a.m. The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony. Anyone wishing to testify at the roundtable should contact the Committee on the Judiciary via email at judiciary@dccouncil.us or at (202) 727-8275, and provide their name, telephone number, organizational…
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20 Sep 2016
By cmmcduffie

McDuffie Introduces Legislation to Provide Legal Representation to Low-Income District Residents in Housing Cases

Media Advisory
Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D – Ward 5), Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, introduced legislation to provide free legal counsel to low-income District residents in certain housing law cases. The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Bonds, Evans and Silverman. The “Expanding Access to Justice Act of 2016” would authorize the DC Bar Foundation (“DCBF”) to adopt policies and procedures, issue requests for proposals, and make grants to designated legal services providers as part of a new series of legal counsel projects. The providers would represent low-income tenants at or below 200% of the federal poverty line facing eviction,…
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16 Aug 2016
By cmmcduffie

Councilmember McDuffie’s Statement on the Resignation of Chief Cathy Lanier

Media Advisory
Washington, D.C. – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie issued the following statement regarding the resignation of Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier. “I want to wish Chief Cathy Lanier the very best and much success in her new position. Chief Lanier has guided the Metropolitan Police Department for 10 years now, and I have had the privilege to work closely with her, not only as an advisor to then Deputy Mayor Paul Quander, but now in my role as Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. Chief Lanier has always been the consummate professional and has dedicated 26 years of…
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