118th CONGRESS 1st Session |
Censuring Representative Jamaal Bowman.
December 5, 2023
Mrs. McClain (for herself, Mr. Gimenez, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Finstad, Ms. Greene of Georgia, Mr. Walberg, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, and Mr. Collins) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ethics
Censuring Representative Jamaal Bowman.
Whereas, on September 30, 2023, as the House of Representatives was considering legislation to avoid a lapse of appropriations for Federal agencies and departments which would result in a shutdown of those agencies and departments, Jamaal Bowman, the Representative from the 16th Congressional District of New York, pulled a fire alarm;
Whereas section 22–1319 of the District of Columbia Criminal Code makes knowingly causing a false alarm of fire a misdemeanor punishable by fine or imprisonment up to six months, or both;
Whereas section 22–1319 of the District of Columbia Criminal Code states “It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to willfully or knowingly give a false alarm of fire within the District of Columbia, and any person or persons violating the provisions of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished by a fine not more than the amount set forth in section 22–3571.01 [of this Code] or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment”;
Whereas, on October 26, 2023, Representative Bowman pled guilty to violating section 22–1319 of the District of Columbia Criminal Code and was required to pay a $1,000 fine and write an apology letter to the United States Capitol Police and was placed on probation; and
Whereas the actions of Representative Bowman forced the evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building and disrupted the work of the Congress as a vote was underway on the floor of the House: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
(1) the House of Representatives censures Jamaal Bowman, Representative from the 16th Congressional District of New York;
(2) Representative Jamaal Bowman will forthwith present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure; and
(3) Representative Jamaal Bowman will be censured with the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker.