{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://comer.house.gov/2021/10/comer-republicans-express-concerns-over-d-c-mayor-s-failure-to-address-surging-violent-crime", "Comer, Republicans Express Concerns over D.C. Mayor's Failure to Address Surging Violent Crime", "2021-10-01", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Oversight Republicans sent a letter to the mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, seeking an explanation on the plummeting funding levels for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) amidst a substantial increase in homelessness and violent crime plaguing the nation\u2019s capital.\n\n\u201cAs homelessness and violent crime have increased at an unchecked rate throughout the city, your administration seems to have given up trying to prevent the District from falling into a state of chaos. The message coming from your office regarding the future role of, and funding for, the city\u2019s police is contributing to the decline\u2026 In May, a mother and her five-year-old daughter were both shot walking home from the park by someone riding a scooter. By ignoring this growing issue, your administration is contributing to these people\u2019s suffering, not alleviating it,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nIn Washington, D.C., chronic homelessness has increased 20% in the last year and homicides are set to break the 16-year high of 2020. Recently, the mayor\u2019s office signaled its intent to decrease funding for the MPD\u2019s budget, limiting its resources and ability to hire new recruits. The current budget only permits the MPD to hire 170 new officers, down from a normal 280. The decision has led to the smallest police force in the nation\u2019s capital in more than two decades.\n\n\u201cThe emergence of vast homeless communities\u2014where drug use and violence often go unchecked \u2014will only exacerbate and add to the crime in the city\u2026 Further, the District is compounding the crime and homelessness issues with mixed messages coming from the D.C. government and the groups influencing it,\u201d concluded the lawmakers.\n\nAs the Committee of jurisdiction for all matters involving the District of Columbia, the Republican lawmakers are seeking to understand the deteriorating situation and are requesting a briefing regarding the status of MPD funding.\n\nRead the full letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://comer.house.gov/2021/10/comer-republicans-express-concerns-over-d-c-mayor-s-failure-to-address-surging-violent-crime"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0193008929491043, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}