Congresswoman Johnson Calls on Senate to Pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

(Washington, DC) - Today, Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Al Lawson (FL-05) held a call with regional reporters calling on the Senate to take up the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed the House in June with bipartisan support. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act reimagines policing for the 21st Century by banning chokeholds, stopping no-knock warrants, combatting racial profiling, eliminating qualified immunity, and mandating data collection, including body cameras and dashboard cameras. A summary of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is available HERE.

In contrast to the historic George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the President’s weak Executive Order and Senate Republicans’ proposal, which was rejected on a bipartisan basis, both fall sadly and seriously short of what is required to combat the epidemic of racial injustice and police brutality – failing to contain meaningful, mandatory accountability measures to end misconduct.

“The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act over two months ago, and we continue to call on the Senate to take up this bipartisan bill without delay,” said Whip Clyburn. This legislation gives us an opportunity to live up to what Alexis de Tocqueville observed about America’s greatness when he wrote, ‘America is not great because it is more enlightened than any other nation, but rather because it has always been able to repair its faults.’ It is long overdue for us to repair some faults in our policing system and apply the greatness of America equitably to all of our citizens.”

“It is imperative that we change the culture of policing.  There must be an increase in transparency, better recruiting of officers who have a heart to truly serve, and the opportunity for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to conduct outside investigations with subpoena powers,” said Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. “Since the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, we have witnessed several violent encounters between Black people and law enforcement. It is my hope that the Senate immediately takes this bill up for consideration before another life is lost.”

“The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act over two months ago, and today we are calling on the Senate take it up without delay,” said Rep. Johnson. “Since the murder of George Floyd, we have witnessed several instances of police brutality across our country: Rayshard Brooks, Trayford Pellerin, Jacob Blake, and too many more. In fact, there was another troubling incident this weekend in Clayton County, just south of downtown Atlanta, where law enforcement officers used excessive force against an unarmed Black man. Across the country, Americans are still demanding true police reform, to ensure that everyone receives equal justice under the law. Leader McConnell should take up the House-passed bipartisan bill and do so immediately, so that we can save lives and families across our country.”

"How many more lives will be lost before the Senate will take action?" Rep. Lawson asked. "We need to ensure police departments are implementing changes and addressing the way officers are trained to respond to citizens. We rely on our law enforcement to protect us all. Now is the time for transformative police reform. "

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