Executive Summary

Washington, D.C. is at a crossroads. Following sweeping legislative changes by the D.C. Council that have undermined public safety, weakened law enforcement authority, and jeopardized officer rights, Modern Fortis has stepped forward to support the DC Police Union in charting a path toward meaningful reform. This white paper outlines the challenges facing the city’s law enforcement, highlights our legislative and strategic interventions—including H.J. Res. 26, H.J. Res. 42, and H.R. 2096—and issues a call to action to lawmakers and public safety advocates nationwide.

1. The Problem: Policies That Undermine Public Safety and Police Rights

In 2022, the D.C. Council passed the Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA) and the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act—two measures that decriminalized key offenses and stripped police officers of basic workplace protections.

After the DC Council passed these laws undermining police officers' rights and effectively decriminalizing crime. The consequences were swift and severe.

• Sharp increase in violent crime across the district
• Fear and public safety concerns for residents, members of Congress, and their staff
• Spikes in property crime, crime against women, and gun violence.
• Loss of essential collective bargaining rights for DC Police Union members
• Elimination of the 90-day timeline for disciplinary actions, exposing officers to indefinite uncertainty and administrative abuse

These reforms, though framed as accountability measures, left frontline officers demoralized and the public more vulnerable. The DC Police Union responded by seeking strategic guidance and federal engagement. Their mission: to work with Congress to reverse these dangerous, detrimental changes.

2. The Strategy: Modern Fortis Takes Action

Our response was grounded in a focused, multi-tiered advocacy strategy that included direct legislative engagement, public messaging, policy drafting, and raising visibility for the voices of DC’s law enforcement community.

A Bi-Partisan Approach to Reverses Harmful Legislation:

• H.J. Res. 26
• We helped draft and obtain sponsors for this key piece of critical public safety legislation.
• The passage of this resolution overturned the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 and marked the first action taken by Congress to manage the District in over three decades.
• This win restored essential prosecutorial tools and reaffirmed the federal government’s role in public safety oversight in D.C.
• TIMELINE:
• Introduction and House Passage: Sponsored by Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA), H.J.Res. 26 was introduced on February 2, 2023. The House of Representatives passed the resolution on February 9, 2023, with a bipartisan vote of 250-173. 
• Senate Approval: The Senate approved the resolution on March 8, 2023, with a 81Presidential Action: The resolution was presented to President Biden on March 15, 2023, and he signed it into law on March 20, 2023, thereby overturning the RCCA.  

H.J. Res. 42

• Although ultimately vetoed, H.J. Res. 42 brought the issues and struggles of Police in our Nation's Capital to the forefront.
• Modern Fortis worked with both houses of Congress and both parties to earn broad bipartisan support to overturn the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act, signaling strong resistance to the Council’s approach.
• TIMELINE:
• House Passage: Introduced by Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) on March 9, 2023, H.J.Res. 42 passed the House on April 19, 2023, with a 229-189 vote. 
• Senate Approval: The Senate approved the resolution on May 16, 2023, with a 56-43 vote. 
• Presidential Veto: President Biden vetoed the resolution on May 25, 2023.

Crafting Targeted Relief:

• H.R. 2096
• Collaborating with the DC Police Union, Modern Fortis worked to develop and introduce critical legislation to reinstate collective bargaining rights and due process for all public safety, public sector police officers in Washington.
• TIMELINE:
• House Resolution 2096 (H.R. 2096) was introduced in the 119th Congress on March 14, 2025, by Representative Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), with Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN) as a co-sponsor.

Strategic Visibility and Congressional Advocacy that Positions Law Enforcement as Policy Partners:

• Testimony Opportunities: Secured opportunities for the Union Chairman to testify before House Committees, elevating frontline law enforcement concerns to the national stage.
• Congressional Briefings: Arranged briefings for Congressional staff following public safety surges, keeping the crisis and potential solutions front-of-mind for federal decision-makers.
• Facilitated high-level meetings between the DC Police Union and executive branch officials to ensure that law enforcement voices are included in White House and DOJ conversations.
• Deployed sophisticated advocacy and communication tools—including digital storytelling, legislative strategy memos, coalition building, and grassroots mobilization—to reinforce our message.
  

3. The Stakes: Why This Fight Matters

Public safety is the bedrock of any thriving city, and Washington, D.C. is no exception.

The current trajectory—where political posturing overrides operational reality—cannot continue unchecked. If the nation’s capital cannot guarantee law and order, the consequences ripple across the country.

This fight is about more than a single union or city. It’s about:

• Restoring a functional relationship between law enforcement and lawmakers
• Empowering officers with the protections and support needed to do their jobs
• Demonstrating that real reform must include, not sideline, the professionals on the ground

Modern Fortis is committed to this mission, and we will not back down until DC’s police officers receive the respect, tools, and protections they deserve. Together, we can reclaim public safety, uphold justice, and build a stronger foundation for reform—one rooted in reality, not rhetoric.