H.R. 5143District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

1 recorded actionWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Clay Higgins [R-LA-03]
Cosponsors: 2 · 2 Republicans
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Committee: Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Latest action: Sep 18, 2025 · Received in the Senate.

IntroducedSep 4, 2025
Passed the HouseSep 17, 2025
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

This bill repeals restrictions on the circumstances under which law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia (DC) may engage in vehicular pursuits (i.e., police chases) of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles, and instead generally requires such pursuits in the absence of other means of apprehension.

Currently, pursuant to DC's Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, law enforcement officers generally may not engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles unless the officer reasonably believes (1) the suspect was involved in a crime of violence or poses an immediate and serious threat to another person, (2) the pursuit is necessary to prevent that threat and is not likely to result in death or serious injury to any person, and (3) all other options have been exhausted or are unreasonable given the circumstances.

The bill repeals these restrictions and instead requires law enforcement officers to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles unless the officer or a higher-ranking officer reasonably believes that (1) such pursuit would be futile, (2) the pursuit would entail an unacceptable risk of harm to a person other than the suspect, or (3) the suspect can be apprehended more effectively or expeditiously by other means.

The bill also requires the Department of Justice to report to Congress on the costs and benefits of DC’s Metropolitan Police Department adopting technology that alerts the public of an active police pursuit in their immediate vicinity.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 5143 as introduced in House on Sep 4, 2025. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 275

House Sep 17, 2025

On Passage

District of Columbia Policing Protection Act

Passed

245 Yea 182 Nay 5 not voting

Party-line vote 29 of 427 voting members broke with their own party: 29 Democrats.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members432 members

Democratic213 members

Independent1 member

Republican218 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors2 · 2 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 5143 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

RByron Donalds [R-FL-19]Original

RJoe Wilson [R-SC-02]Joined Sep 15, 20252026 profile

Loading the public record

H.R. 5143District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

What the measure doesCRS summary

How every member votedHouse roll call 275

On Passage

How the chamber split

Cosponsors2 · 2 Republicans

H.R. 5143District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

What the measure doesCRS summary

How every member votedHouse roll call 275

On Passage

How the chamber split

Cosponsors2 · 2 Republicans

Who lobbied on H.R. 51437 organizations

Who lobbied on H.R. 51437 organizations