Press Releases

Today, Councilmember Henderson introduced the License Suspension Reform Amendment Act of 2023 and the Automated Traffic Enforcement Effectiveness Amendment Act of 2023. These pieces of legislation will increase the penalties for dangerous driving and streamline processes that promote accountability and safe driving in the District

The District’s Out of School Time (OST), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and DOES programs are popular, but there are gaps in opportunities for middle-school aged youth. Middle school is a critical time in children’s exploration of and exposure to opportunities, and it is critical that youth have a broad array of hands-on experiences and opportunities to develop new and existing skills during the summer. Additionally, exposing middle school-aged students to careers and fields inside and outside their interests allows for them to visualize themselves as contributing members of our city and community, reducing the poor choices that may be available to them. While DOES currently offers middle schoolers the Middle School Exploration program, the program has only 3 providers, offers a total of 225 spots, and does not compensate or reward the students. Currently, there are approximately 17,000 middle schoolers enrolled in both DCPS and Charter schools in the District. While the youth targeted by the bill cannot be paid wages, the bill would allow for DOES to provide a reward for participants at the conclusion of the summer pilot as an incentive to participate.

“The timing of the release of this investigation summary speaks volumes regarding the handling of this matter by the Bowser Administration. From the beginning, when the public was told that the former Deputy Mayor was simply resigning to pursue opportunities in the private sector, to the release of this report late on the Saturday night of a 3-day holiday weekend, it has been difficult to trust in the thoroughness of this internal investigation."

Currently, when students miss school due to a physical or mental illness, injury, or impairment that prevents them from participating in the day-to-day activities typically expected during school attendance, they are eligible to receive home or hospital instruction provided by their local education agency (LEA). However, students experiencing health conditions such as pre-birth complications, childbirth, and postpartum recovery are excluded from home and hospital instruction programs under the law as interpreted by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).

Each year, tenants eagerly await the arrival of May 15—when air conditioning is turned on in apartment buildings in which tenants cannot individually control their indoor heating and air conditioning. In the past few years, average local temperatures have steadily risen, and many tenants who depend on their landlord to initiate the annual change to air conditioning from heating have wanted to access air conditioning much earlier than May 15...A tenant who cannot individually control the internal temperature of their home due to the design or age of their building should not have to swelter in their home while waiting for May 15 to arrive.

The physical, mental, academic, and emotional safety of all students is of chief concern in our District schools. This legislation would amend the Student Access to Treatment Act of 2007 to authorize employees and agents of public schools who have been certified under an Office of the State Superintendent of Education medication administration training program to administer undesignated albuterol to a student who is suffering or about to suffer an asthma attack and undesignated glucagon to a student who is suffering or about to suffer hypoglycemia due to diabetes.