1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

As the a Christian and a constituent, I am alarmed by the recent takeover of Washington D.C. The President’s ability to invoke the Home Rule Act hinges on the existence of an emergency. Despite the claim that crime in D.C. qualifies, crime in the city is the lowest it’s been in 30 years and is trending downward, with violent crime dropping by 26% and overall crime decreasing by 7% in the last year. Because D.C. is not a state, its constituents lack representation in Congress. That’s why I am asking you to use your authority to protect the people of D.C. by repealing Section 740 of the Home Rule Act, unfreezing D.C.’s local budget, speaking out against congressional interference into D.C. laws, and passing H.R. 51. D.C. is home to 700,000 engaged, tax-paying citizens who deserve representation and a voice in their government. The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has supported D.C. self-determination for over 50 years.