But there is overlap in the competing proposals which might point to grounds for a compromise, however difficult that might be. “This proposal reinforces the need for better community policing, best practices and creating more transparency when it comes to reporting encounters with law enforcement throughout the country. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the GOP bill, saying it "does not rise to the moment" and would need "dramatic improvement," but he did not say that Democrats would block the procedural motion needed to bring the bill to the floor. Sen. Tim Scott, the only African American Republican senator, sent to GOP offices a draft of a proposed "Justice Act," after he was tasked by Senate … For instance, in an effort to limit chokeholds, the legislation states that "if on the day before the first day of the fiscal year, the State or unit of local government does not have an agency-wide policy in place for each law enforcement agency of the State or unit of local government that prohibits the use of chokeholds except when deadly force is authorized," those entities will not receive certain federal funds. The Democrats have tried to argue that their measure, the Justice and Policing Act, bans the controversial use of force. U. S. Senator Tim Scott has been on the front lines of the JUSTICE Act, Congress's leading bill to reshape policing in America. The bill also includes a proposal to beef up funding for popular Community Oriented Policing (COP) programs, something a number of African American expert witnesses at the Tuesday Senate hearing said was of primary importance. Senate Democrats are convinced that their police reform bill is miles ahead of Sen. Tim Scott's (R-SC) JUSTICE Act. I hope our Democratic colleagues will take this proposal seriously, and that all of us work together to find common ground to bring reform to policing in America.”. It also includes other Democratic provisions, such as the National Criminal Justice Commission Act to trigger a review of the criminal justice system, and making it unlawful for an officer to engage in sexual relations with an individual who is being detained or in custody. Sponsor. They 'Walked Out. All Rights Reserved. We're going to focus on getting something done.". "I say to those families that the fastest way to find the economic response from the departments is the departments themselves," Scott told CNN in an interview. "It's not so much about bending and more about finding justice.". There is absolutely no conflict between being pro-civil rights and being pro-law enforcement. Following his introduction of the JUSTICE Act last Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and his Senate colleagues introduced the JUSTICE Act, legislation providing long-term solutions focused on police reform. That's important, Sen. Scott explains, because incidents such as the police killing of Eric Garner in New York did not involve a federal agent. It’s about politics, and a refusal to find a solution," Scott said. Today’s vote shows that it is time that our elected officials take those calls seriously and propose solutions that answer that call to action.”. The House bill doesn’t ban state/local no knocks. I want to thank Leader McConnell and the entire task force not just for their hard work on putting this bill together, but for their commitment to finding real solutions.”, “I am honored to join my colleagues today to introduce the JUSTICE Act, which offers solutions to help bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities by increasing training, transparency, and accountability,” said Lankford. It also increases penalties for false police reports. The answer is to improve policing, not to defund or eliminate it. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Originally, the Senate was slated to take up the annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, next week. Scott acknowledged that the issue of qualified immunity is one where his bill and the Democrats' plan are far apart but said he was open to discussing it. The 106-page bill, called the the JUSTICE Act -- Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act -- does not include federal mandates to curb police use of force and other questionable practices, like chokeholds, as Democrats have included in a competing measure; rather, the legislation seeks to offer federal incentives for those departments that implement best practices and end controversial tactics and penalize those that do not. Although many of the changes to reform policing in our communities will happen at the local level, we can help stem racial inequality and ensure America’s police are more responsibly serving our communities.”, “The murder of George Floyd has been seared into our national conscience,” Senator Sasse said. Scott noted that he "offered to include an amendment for every concern that was presented" to the Democrats. But Democrats say the proposal, which would encourage police departments to end such practices such as chokeholds and no-knock warrants but does not explicitly ban them, falls short. Democrats want the standard to be changed to a showing that the forceful tactic used was "necessary," something that legal experts say would give victims and their families a chance in court. The effort also looks to up use of police body cameras with grant programs, and in turn penalties for failing to use the cameras.