The House of Representatives has passed the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, H.R. 2159, a bipartisan bill that aims to bring more transparency to the federal criminal code. The legislation requires the Department of Justice to create a public report and database detailing all federal criminal statutory offenses and directs federal agencies to do the same for all criminal regulatory offenses.
Congresswoman Lucy McBath, who serves as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, commented: “As elected officials, it’s our duty to maintain an effective criminal justice system on behalf of the American people. With this bill, our constituents will no longer have to fear being excessively punished and criminal justice professionals can fulfill their mission—protecting the public. I was proud to see the Count the Crimes to Cut Act pass the House unanimously, and I thank my colleagues for their collaboration in the fight for common-sense, bipartisan solutions to update our legal code.”
Congressman Chip Roy, Chairman on the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, stated: “I am proud that the House of Representatives passed the Count the Crimes to Cut Act on a bipartisan basis. There are at least hundreds of thousands of criminal federal laws and regulations on the books, but no one even knows how many we actually have. And many of these laws and regulations are outdated and unnecessary, if not outright ridiculous. At any time, someone could be held criminally liable for something they don’t even know about — this is absurd and it’s far past time we get a full understanding of the federal criminal tapestry to ensure no American is caught in the crosshairs of overcriminalization. I urge the Senate to take up this bill as soon as possible so we can get to work counting the crimes.”
Congressman Andy Biggs, Chairman on the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, added: “The passage of the Count the Crimes to Cut Act is a major step toward restoring the rule of law. Overcriminalization is one of the most destructive features of the modern federal leviathan, and Americans deserve a government that doesn’t hide criminal offenses in a maze of statutes and regulations. This bill brings us closer to peeling back the layers of federal crimes that have become ridiculous and burdensome for the American people. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to advance this legislation swiftly so we can get it to President Trump’s desk.”
Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said: “No one knows how many federal criminal offenses there are. Our founders warned us against having laws too ‘voluminous’ or ‘incoherent’ to be understood by the people. The Count the Crimes to Cut Act makes a simple request of the Department of Justice: list out the federal criminal offenses, their elements, and how often they are used. We have a lot of work to do to make criminal justice more fair and responsive to the challenges we face today. This is how we start. I am pleased to work with Congressman Roy as the first Democratic cosponsor and with others on both sides of the aisle to pass this necessary legislation.”
If enacted into law, H.R. 2159 would require cooperation between agency heads and direct oversight from the Attorney General in compiling comprehensive information about each offense under federal law or regulation carrying potential penalties.
The bill has received support from several organizations focused on legal reform including Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Due Process Institute, National District Attorneys Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, R Street Institute, and Right on Crime.
Lucy McBath currently represents Georgia’s 7th district in Congress after winning her seat in 2024 with nearly three-quarters (74.7%) of votes against Jeff Criswell.
She has served since replacing Karen Handel in 2019.
