CONGRESSMAN MORELLE TAKES ACTION TO REFORM AND REIMAGINE POLICING IN AMERICA

Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to enact the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, groundbreaking legislation that takes steps to change the culture of law enforcement while addressing systemic racism and bias. In addition to co-sponsoring the legislation, Rep. Morelle also led the debate for the rule on the House floor.

"The time for incremental change has passed. It's clear that we need a cultural paradigm shift and a massive reimaging of our public safety protocols—and that starts with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act," said Congressman Joe Morelle. "What happened to Daniel Prude, to the young girl in our community who was pepper-sprayed, and to countless other victims across our nation underscores just how necessary this legislation truly is. I'm grateful that it will enact desperately needed accountability measures and I am hopeful it will put us on the path to building newfound trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to serve and protect."

The Justice in Policing Act was also passed by the House of Representatives in 2020. It strives to address police misconduct, create greater transparency, and afford victims meaningful avenues for redress Specifically, this bill will:

• Reimagine policing by investing in programs that empower and uplift citizens while changing the relationship officers have with the communities they serve to build integrity and trust.
• Prohibit racial and religious profiling, and mandate that all officers undergo training to address discriminatory behaviors within their departments.
• End qualified immunity and remove the barriers that protected police officers from prosecution for their actions.
• End no-knock warrants and ban choke holds to combat police brutality. Would also require the use of body and dashboard cameras.
• De-militarize the police by limiting the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement.
• Improve transparency by collecting data on police misconduct and mandating agencies reports their officers' use of force in the field.

The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.