Clemency Board Waiver Authority Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

This resolution amends the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018 to allow the District of Columbia's Clemency Board to grant a waiver of the 5-year waiting period for applicants seeking a pardon, specifically when the federal Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney (DOJ-OPA) has already granted a similar waiver. Currently, applicants who receive a federal waiver are deemed ineligible by the District Board due to a legal mismatch, even though the federal government is reviewing their cases. The change would ensure these applicants can receive a letter of recommendation from the Board, which is required for the President to consider their clemency request. This emergency measure aims to align District and federal processes without altering eligibility criteria.