The proposed laws would allow the mayor to declare an emergency when the prison population exceeded its noted design capacity for 30 consecutive days and after all administrative options for reducing the prison population had been exhausted. Eligible prisoners would have to be within 180 days of release and could receive a sentence reduction of 90 days or less. Speakers at the hearings included officials of the District of Columbia and representatives of the police, prosecutor, and other agencies. Much of the testimony addressed pertinent court orders, crime data, the constitutionality of the law, and the role of Congress. The full committee convened on October 8 and unanimously voted to defeat H.J. Res. 341.