(Daily Signal)—In a major rebuke to measures passed by the District of Columbia city government under home rule, the House of Representatives will consider three bills this week that would repeal local laws passed by the D.C. Council.
One of the bills seeks to repeal a local law that gave illegal aliens and other noncitizen D.C. residents the right to vote in local elections in the District of Columbia. HR 884 would repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which enabled noncitizens to vote in D.C. elections.
The local law, which went into effect on Feb. 23, 2023, formally amended the definition of eligible electors to include noncitizens living in the District of Columbia. That means noncitizen D.C. residents became eligible to vote for the mayor, chairman or member of the D.C. Council, attorney general, members of the D.C. State Board of Education, members of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and D.C. ballot measures. It also allowed noncitizens to run for elected office in the D.C. government, including for the top job, mayor.
Congressional Republicans have attempted to undo the D.C. Council’s laws in the past, and were joined by as many as 42 of their Democrat colleagues in the effort. However, their effort did not pass muster in the Senate. (D.C. laws are subject to an initial review by both chambers of Congress). A legal challenge was also not able to undo the D.C. law. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an appointee of President Barack Obama, dismissed a lawsuit in 2024 that had attempted to challenge the law, saying the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue.
“Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for a healthy republic. The radical D.C. Council’s decision to allow noncitizens—including illegal aliens and foreign agents—to vote in local elections dilutes the voting power of the citizen voter,” Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, the sponsor of the legislation in the House, told The Daily Signal.
“That power must be defended and anyone against H.R. 884 is for the transfer of political power away from legal voters. Congress has the authority to overrule this in Washington, and 25% of
the Democratic caucus agreed and voted for this bill—a strong bipartisan vote,” the Texas congressman continued.
“My legislation restores the sanctity of the voting process and ensures that only American citizens are voting in our nation’s capital, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation,” Pfluger said.
Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., explained how enabling noncitizens to vote dilutes the voice of the American citizen.
“I co-sponsored HR 884 because only American citizens should decide American elections—period. The D.C. Council’s reckless decision to allow noncitizens, including illegal aliens and even foreign agents, to vote in local elections is a direct assault on the integrity of our democratic process,” Timmons told The Daily Signal.
“This bill restores common sense, protects the sanctity of the vote, and sends a clear message: citizenship matters. Anyone against HR 884 is for watering down the voice of the American voter. My constituents overwhelmingly support this bill, and so do I,” the South Carolina lawmaker said.
Two other pieces of legislation pertaining to the District are set to be debated and voted on in the House this week as well.
HR 2056 is a bill that would undo local law by barring the D.C. government from prohibiting or restricting its officials from “sending, receiving, maintaining, or exchanging with any Federal, State, or local government entity information regarding the citizenship or immigration status (lawful or unlawful) of any individual.” The bill also would prevent the District from banning compliance with a request from the Department of Homeland Security for “a detainer for, or notify about the release of, an individual.” The legislation has a policy carve-out for illegal aliens who are victims of, or witnesses to, crimes.
HR 2096 is a bill being considered that deals with policing in the District. The Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act would restore the ability of D.C. police officers to negotiate matters related to discipline through collective bargaining. It would also restore the statute of limitations for claims against the D.C. police or civilian employees of the Metropolitan Police Department. Both of these actions would amend a D.C. law, the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.