DC Vote Condemns Rep. Scott Perry’s Latest Attack on DC Self-Government
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ranit Schmelzer, [email protected]
New “DC ROADS Act” Continues Pattern of Congressional Interference in Local DC Transportation Policy
WASHINGTON, DC (May 19, 2026) — DC Vote today condemned H.R. 8801, the “DC ROADS Act,” introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), calling the legislation yet another attempt by Congress to override the will of 700,000 District residents and interfere in decisions that should be made by locally elected leaders. The bill is expected to be marked up by the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform tomorrow.
The legislation would prohibit the District of Columbia from implementing congestion pricing and would amend the DC Home Rule Act to permanently strip the DC Council of the authority to enact such a policy in the future. DC Vote says the bill is part of a broader pattern of congressional overreach into the District’s local affairs.
“This bill says a lot more about congressional overreach than it does about transportation policy,” said Amy Vruno, DC Vote Executive Director. “Rep. Perry is at it again spending time on local DC issues rather than the priorities of the Pennsylvania residents of his district. We recently traveled to Rep. Perry’s district and spoke directly with his constituents. They had many pressing issues on their minds, affordability, war, fuel and fertilizer prices and more. It won’t surprise you that not one person we interviewed mentioned anything about local roads nearly 100 miles away in DC. When we told them about Perry’s attempts to overturn local DC road laws, PA residents’ reactions ranged from confusion, laughter, frustration to disgust. Rep. Perry should focus on serving the people who elected him instead of trying to micromanage a city he does not represent.”
Rep. Perry previously introduced legislation targeting DC’s automated traffic enforcement cameras, continuing what DC Vote describes as a sustained effort to strip District residents of control over their own streets and public safety policies.
In March, DC Vote brought a delegation of District residents to Rep. Perry’s district in Harrisburg, PA, to speak directly with his constituents about his focus on DC traffic laws. Residents there overwhelmingly said they did not believe eliminating DC traffic cameras was a priority for their community. One Harrisburg resident summed it up bluntly: “I can’t imagine it’ll be on the radar at all. What do I care about DC traffic?” You can watch the full video interviews and find B-roll and photos to use in your reporting here.
The delegation came shortly after the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform advanced Perry’s earlier anti-DC traffic camera legislation. DC Vote argued then — as it does now — that no other city in America faces this level of federal interference in local transportation policy.
“No other American city has to deal with members of Congress from entirely different states trying to dictate how their streets are managed. DC residents deserve the exact same right.” Vruno added.
DC Vote also warned that H.R. 8801 represents a dangerous escalation because it would permanently amend the Home Rule Act itself, limiting the District’s authority well beyond a temporary appropriations rider.
“Every time Congress chips away at DC’s local authority, it reinforces why statehood is necessary,” Vruno said. “District residents are capable of making decisions about their own streets, transportation systems, and public safety — just like every other community in America.”
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About DC Vote
Founded in 1998, DC Vote is a national citizen engagement and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening democracy and securing equality for all in the District of Columbia. Learn more at www.DCVote.org.