House Republicans warned congressional workers Monday concerning the spike in violent crime in Washington D.C., urging those that work on Capitol Hill to take steps to make sure they're secure.

The House Administration Committee, which oversees the Capitol complicated, mentioned it might maintain an “informational security briefing” subsequent week for staff to get security suggestions and find out about precautions.

“This year we have seen a dramatic increase in violent crime and theft in Washington D.C. The city is on pace for the most homicides in two decades, a 105% increase in carjackings, and a 113% increase in motor vehicle thefts,” the committee mentioned in justifying the briefing.

Some of that crime has already touched the Capitol Hill group, the committee mentioned, pointing to the assault on Rep. Angie Craig, Minnesota Democrat, in her condo constructing in February, and the March stabbing of an aide to Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul.

Staffers have had automobiles stolen and houses have been damaged into, the committee assertion added.

The warning comes weeks after the Mexican consulate in Washington warned its residents residing right here to “take precautions” due to surging crime, significantly in “areas previously considered safe.” Guatemala’s consulate issued an identical warning.

Metropolitan Police Department information exhibits the violent crime price is up 39% to date this yr, reversing a small drop from 2021 to 2022. Property crime can be up 27%.

The District in some methods is defying the nationwide development, the place homicides and violent crime are dipping, although nonetheless above the degrees earlier than the coronavirus pandemic. City leaders have struggled for solutions for why Washington is an outlier.

As a federal district, Congress has final management over Washington, although the day-to-day operations are run by a Democratic-dominated metropolis council and a Democratic mayor.

That has induced some friction.

At the beginning of this yr, Congress overturned a proposed metropolis regulation that may have relaxed most penalties for some main crimes. President Biden, after signaling opposition, wound up signing the invoice to overturn D.C.’s regulation.

The Capitol maintains its personal police drive that patrols the buildings and streets that make up the Capitol campus.

The House Administration Committee mentioned its security briefing, scheduled for Sept. 18, will embody members of that police drive, in addition to victims of crime. The briefing is open to all the Capitol Hill group.

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