Dear Neighbor,
Today, I introduced an important bill to remove cell phones and other wireless devices from the classroom to improve student outcomes for our students. The “Heads Up! Distraction-Free Learning Amendment Act of 2025” requires all elementary, middle, and high schools to implement a policy that prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during the school day including cell phones, gaming devices, and smart watches among others.
We must remain focused on supporting a learning environment in all of our schools that will help our students learn, play, engage, and thrive. Removing distracting devices during the school day will better equip our students to focus, empower our teachers to teach, and ensure that our kids are engaging with one another in person which will benefit them and their outcomes for years to come.
I also want to congratulate our DC football team, the Washington Commanders, for an outstanding season culminating in us making it to the NFC Championship for the first time in 33 years! While yesterday didn’t go the way we hoped, I was proud to be in Philidelphia cheering on our team, and I look forward to a spectacular season next year!
Performance oversight and budget season for Fiscal Year 2026 has officially begun. As Chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety I will hold the first in a series of agency performance oversight hearings this Wednesday, January 29th. Performance oversight hearings allow the Council and residents to receive updates from government agencies, ask questions, and hear resident testimony about their experiences receiving services from District agencies – see below on how you can sign up to testify!
Yours in Service,
Brooke
Performance Oversight
The Committee conducts oversight of agencies that affect criminal law and procedure, juvenile justice, police protection, correctional institutions, fire prevention, emergency medical services, homeland security, criminal justice, and public safety.
The Committee’s first hearing on January 29th will include the Office of Victim Services & Justice Grants (OVSJG), which coordinates and provides grants for programs that care for crime victims and their support networks. You can sign up to testify or submit testimony here. Please reach out to my team at judiciary@dccouncil.gov if you have any questions or concerns you would like to share.
Witnesses who anticipate needing language interpretation, or requiring sign language interpretation, are asked to inform the Committee of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before a hearing during registration or by contacting Aukima Benjamin, Committee Manager to the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, at (202) 724-8058 or via e-mail atjudiciary@dccouncil.gov.
Phone-Free Schools
Today, Councilmember Pinto introduced a new bill to help remove digital distractions in the classroom and improve outcomes for District students. The “Heads Up! Distraction-Free Learning Amendment Act of 2025” requires DC schools to have policies prohibiting the use of cell phones and other personal wireless communications devices during the full school day.
The purpose of the proposal is to reduce distractions for students in the classroom and enhance their learning experience. Last year, only 34 percent of District students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts and literacy and only 22.8 percent of our students met or exceeded expectations in math.
You can read more about the legislation here.
Bottle Bill
Councilmember Pinto joined 10 of her Council colleagues in co-introducing the “Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025.” This legislation establishes a beverage container deposit program in the District. Consumers would pay a 10-cent deposit on cans and bottles and are refunded the deposit when they return the containers to be recycled. Councilmember Pinto remains committed to ensuring our rivers become more swimmable and drinkable and that our environment is protected.
You can find a copy of the legislation here.
Over the last two weeks, Councilmember Pinto and Team Pinto have met with residents, advocacy groups, and District officials in Ward 2 and across the District, including at:
- The National Housing Summit hosted by the National League of Cities and Mayor Bowser to discuss how we deployed our strategy in DC to revitalize our Downtown by enhancing public safety, implementing legislative and budget incentives for conversions and productive use of space, and establishing and bolstering our public-private partnerships.
- DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition to discuss shared priorities to provide support, protections, and funding for the LGBTQQIA+ community. Our LGBTQQIA+ friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors are an integral part of our city. Councilmember Pinto is committed to continuing to work to ensure DC remains a welcoming home and safe place for everyone.
- MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade to celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and his commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for all.
- DC Girls’ Coalition and the Black Swann Academy hosted the 4th Annual Youth Town Hall to discuss our efforts to invest in public safety, literacy programs, and other needs to support our youth. We heard directly from young people about solutions to enrich their lives and ensure that our future generation of leaders has the tools and resources needed to thrive.
- Inauguration: Councilmember Pinto joined other District leaders and attended the Inaugural viewing at Capital One Arena on January 20th.
Reaccreditation for DC Department of Forensic Sciences Fingerprint Unit
The DC Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) Latent Fingerprint Unit (LFU) has been reaccredited by the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board (ANAB). This reaffirms the Department’s dedication to maintaining the highest quality of standards and ensures our ability to support public safety and justice in the District.
New JSAT Website for Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) has launched a newly redesigned Justice Statistical Analysis Tool (JSAT) website. This critical resource provides a centralized location for accessing vital criminal and juvenile justice data and analysis.
The updated JSAT website, jsat.cjcc.dc.gov, features the Public Safety and Justice Dashboards published in compliance with Councilmember Pinto’s Secure DC Omnibus. The Public Safety and Justice Dashboards provide detailed information on violent crime incidents, arrests, pretrial decisions, detention trends, and other key metrics, enhancing transparency and accountability in the District of Columbia.
Snow Removal
Councilmember Pinto and our team have been working to respond to constituent concerns about snow removal by remaining in regular communication with DPW and the Executive about areas that need snow removal and ice mitigation. The freezing temperatures have made ice and snow removal difficult.
Homeowners who are 65 or older/or residents with disabilities, access, and functional needs may get help with shoveling snow from Serve DC’s DC Volunteer Snow Team. Call Serve DC at 202-727-7925 to sign-up for the DC Volunteer Snow Removal Program.
For snow shoveling safety tips visit the District’s Snow Team website here.
Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Ward 2
• Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
• Committee on Business and Economic Development
• Committee on Housing
• Committee on Public Works and Operations
• Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery
Address: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 106 | Washington, DC 20004
Call: (202) 724-8058 | Contact Us: www.brookepintodc.com/help