Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This legislation is a comprehensive approach that will hold police accountable, end racial profiling, empower our communities, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. Congressman Cuellar calls on the Senate to find a compromise on this legislation.

“I share our nation’s shock and outrage over the death of George Floyd,” said Congressman Cuellar.  “The majority of our brave men and women in law enforcement do their jobs honorably and with integrity. However, bad practices by individual law enforcement officers create a significant danger not only to our communities, but also cause mistrust between law enforcement departments and to the people they serve.

“Not all cities and counties are the same across the country. We cannot paint all law enforcement with the same paintbrush. I have spoken to national, state and local law enforcement unions to find a balance in this legislation.

“We must make necessary reforms to our policing system, not defund or disassemble it, to prevent further tragedies from happening again,” Congressman Cuellar continued. “I voted for the Justice in Policing Act, legislation that is a first step in helping save lives and making sure officers who abuse their power are held accountable. We must come together to strengthen our public safety and rebuild trust between our law enforcement and our communities.”

This legislation would create a national standard for the operation of police departments; mandate data collection on police encounters; reprogram existing funds to invest in transformative community-based policing program; and streamline federal law to prosecute excessive force and establish independent prosecutors for police investigations.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will take numerous key steps to achieve police reform, including:

• Ending racial, religious and discriminatory profiling;
• Establishing a National Police Misconduct Registry to improve transparency and prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave one agency, from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability;
• Requiring data collection, including mandatory body cameras and dashboard cameras;
• Establishing new standards for policing and the Public Safety Innovation grants for community-based organizations to help reimagine policing in their communities;
• Making lynching a federal hate crime; and more.