House Approves Police Reform Bill, But Issue Delayed Citing Partisan Standoff
House Democrats have approved a wide range of efforts to amend how police do their jobs. With this move, the chamber has responded to a nation-wide outcry for rectification of America's law enforcement departments.
Regrettably, the legislation's prospects are short-circuited as bipartisan are not in general agreement with the ultimate plan. Democrats made their bill without consulting GOP, leaving Republicans to forward their own counter-proposal in the Senate. Without working towards a bipartisan compromise the issue is likely postponed, probably until the fall election.
Despite this uncertainty surrounding the bill, Democrats deemed the moment as triumphant in the ongoing, nation-wide outcry for reforms in police misconduct, systemic racism, and brutality. The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act with 236 to 181 votes just a month after Floyd's death. The legislation was supported by three Republicans.
Standing at the Capitol's East front steps ahead of passage, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted that American people from different walks of life and various corners of the country have restlessly been demanding that Floyd's murder, which became a moment of national agony is changed into a moment of national action. With the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Pelosi said the House is not just honoring his life, but lives of all victims of police brutality.
Pelosi urged Black Caucus to come up with the police reforms amid the ongoing protests. The legislation was introduced two weeks after Floyd's death on May 25 when a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes. Floyd's brother, Philonise testified in a House Judiciary Hearing soon after the incident.
Encouraged by civil rights organizations, Democrats claim their legislation could get a shot at passage, provided they perform well in the impending elections. The bill included a large number of the caucus as sponsors to make sure it gets the floor passage, and it also marks one of modern times' most comprehensive efforts to revamp law enforcement departments across the country, NPR reported.
The bill various measures such as banning federal police from applying chokeholds and other life-threatening restraints along with a no-knock warrant in drug-related dispute. Moreover, it also brings legal standards to seek criminal and civil penalties for police immorality down.
California Rep. and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Karen Bass noted that they are supposed to be the light of hope when it comes to human rights in other countries, describing the Justice In Policing Act as a bill for human rights in the United States.