The House Judiciary Committee has taken a significant step by advancing the “Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2025,” a bill spearheaded by Representatives Chip Roy, Lucy McBath, Andy Biggs, and Steve Cohen. The legislation mandates that the Department of Justice and federal agency leaders compile an exhaustive report of all federal criminal statutes and regulations that include criminal penalties.
Congressman Chip Roy emphasized the need for clarity in federal laws, stating: “Freedom is just an illusion when the government buries its own citizens under ridiculous and never-ending criminal laws.” He pointed out the difficulty in counting existing laws, noting estimates of over 5,000 crimes in statute and upwards of 300,000 regulations with criminal penalties. He praised the committee’s action on H.R. 2159 as a necessary step to address overcriminalization.
Congresswoman Lucy McBath expressed pride in the bill’s progress: “I was proud to see the Count the Crimes to Cut Act move one step closer to becoming law by passing out of our committee today.” She highlighted how this initiative could prevent excessive punishment and aid justice professionals in public protection efforts.
Chairman Andy Biggs also stressed protecting liberties through reducing federal overreach: “The passage of Count the Crimes to Cut Act out of committee is a step in the right direction.” He urged quick legislative action for President Trump’s approval.
Senior member Steve Cohen reflected on historical warnings against complex legal systems: “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 people.”
The proposed act requires detailed reporting on each offense, including elements, potential penalties, prosecution numbers over 15 years, and required mens rea. The legislation has garnered support from several organizations like Families Against Mandatory Minimums and Right on Crime.
