Police Reform Bill
U.S. Congressman Fred Keller, the representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th district, has discussed police reform with law enforcement officers across the commonwealth. The republican lawmaker felt the Justice Act, a bill introduced by Republicans in the U.S. senate, addressed their concerns.
“That bill had a lot of things in it that local law enforcement wanted to see happen,” Keller said. “Transparency, training, accountability.”
The House and Senate both had their own versions of the bill. The one in the Senate stalled.
“This bill lost because it was woefully inadequate,” said Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader. “It never would have passed and McConnell provided no path to improve it.”
Keller was a co-sponsor of the Justice Act. The bill would strengthen police training methods, ban choke holds and reform the police hiring process to ensure officers fit the demographics of the communities they serve. The act would give hiring departments access to an officer’s disciplinary records, provide additional body cameras to police and require a report to the FBI when an officer uses force or discharges a weapon.
This week, Senate Democrats voted it down.
“They didn’t bring the votes to even discuss it,” Keller said. “I mean if you discuss it and then you don’t like it that’s one thing.”
Democrats introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the House. The bill prohibits police discrimination based on race, sex or religion, while banning choke holds and no-knock warrants in drug cases. It would require officers to collect data on investigations and account for key demographics. The bill would also establish a National Police Misconduct Registry, preventing some officers with disciplinary records from being hired elsewhere. The act requires body cameras for transparency and accountability.
“This is not the time for half measures, this is not the time for further study, it’s not the time to sham fake reform,” said Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler.
The Justice in Policing Act would change a federal criminal statute, making it easier for officers to be prosecuted and allowing individuals to seek damages in court. It would also limit the use of military-grade equipment.
“It is going to limit what a police force can do to make sure the officers can procure the necessary items to keep the officers and the public safe,” Keller said.
“This movement will not be deterred,” said Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris. “This movement will not accept anything less than real, real substantial substantive solutions, which are the solutions that we have offered in our Justice in Policing bill.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed in the House Thursday, but is not expected to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate.
“I believe I fully believe this chamber can do the right thing and craft a bipartisan bill together,” Schumer said. “We’ve done it before. We can do it again.”
“Let’s come together and let’s do things that will make sure everyone gets the equal justice they deserve and respect in the community and in our law enforcement,” Keller said. “If there are people that are behaving inappropriately, certainly they need to be held accountable.”
Speaking on the Justice in Policing Act, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the Senate has a choice: honor the life of George Floyd or do nothing.
Keller said he believes lawmakers need to show the American people they are listening to their concerns and actively address the needs of communities and law enforcement.