Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, strongly urged Members of the House to override the veto of H.J. Res. 42, which was passed last month by bipartisan majorities in the House and the Senate.

“The people who live, work, and visit the nation’s capital will pay a price if the veto is sustained—especially in the areas of the city that are hit the hardest by the current increase in violent crime,” Yoes said.  “It also sets a terrible precedent for our country.  If employee rights and public safety are sacrificed to satisfy the whims of irresponsible politicians, what kind of message does that send to other cities across the nation?  Police officers will see their voices in the workplace silenced and their hands tied in our neighborhoods here in D.C. and maybe beyond.”

In late May, the President vetoed H.J. 42, a resolution which disapproves the adoption of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act (CPJRAA) by the Washington, D.C. City Council. Not only does the CPJRAA prohibit responsible policing, but it also strips D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers of certain basic employment rights, treating these public servants differently than every other public employee in the city.  To override the veto requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate, and the House is expected to hold a vote on the veto message today.

“The fact is the District of Columbia is the worst-run city in the United States according to a recent study,” Yoes said.  “Congress needs to act to protect the residents, workers, and visitors of this city from the action of the D.C. Council.  The House must override this veto.”