The House gave the green light to the George Floyd Justice in Police Act late Wednesday night in a 220-212 vote.
The vote was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed due to a possible threat to the Capitol related to the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Rep. Ilhan Omar
Ilhan OmarOmar proposes bill to sanction Saudi Crown Prince over Khashoggi assassination, Progressive pushes White House to overthrow wage decision Mehdi Hasan gets MSNBC Sunday show for the first time MORE (D), who represents the Minnesota district where George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis last year, served as speaker pro tempore during the debate on the legislation.
The comprehensive police reform bill received no Republican votes. Initially, Rep. Lance Gooden
Lance GoodenHouse Republicans are asking for information on threats the national guard is holding in DC. READ: The Republicans who voted to contest election results. Here are the Republicans who intend to challenge the outcome of the election college. (R-Texas) voted in favor of the bill, but he later tweeted that he had pressed the wrong button, a post he later removed and replaced. Two Democrats, Representatives Jared Golden (Maine) and Ron Kind
Ronald (Ron) James KindSix ways to visualize a divided Republican campaign of America House, sets the target list for mediocre business. Five centrist Democrats are more against Pelosi for president in a stern vote MORE (Wis.), Voted against the measure.
The bill faces a difficult path in the Senate, where GOP legislators already see it as too biased.
Nevertheless, Rep. Joyce Beatty
Joyce Birdson BeattyBlack Caucus members push Biden to tap Shalanda Young for OMB chief, Harris holds first meeting in ceremonial office with CBC members over money: Senate panels postpone Teeth meetings in negative sign | Biden signs order of supply chain after ‘positive’ meeting with lawmakers MORE (D-Ohio), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she and other leaders of the group had “good talks” with sen. Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene ScottTrump endorses Tim Scott for re-election This week: Senate adopts coronavirus relief after minimum wage slump Global lobby (RS.C.) on finding middle ground in hopes of pushing the bill through the Senate 50-50 and to President Biden
Joe Biden, head of the interception bureau: minimum wage was not a ‘high priority’ for Biden in the COVID-19 relief in the South Carolina Senate, adding a firing squad as an alternative method of execution.‘s desk. Scott, the only black Republican senator, has his own police reform proposal and is open to elements of the Democrats’ version.
“[It’s] unlike last time, where we’re in the country, “Beatty said, referring to the shift in cultural attitudes around law enforcement.” I think it gave people more feeling: it might be the right thing to do at the right time. “
Beatty did not want to say whether House Democrats are willing to accept a weakened version of the bill, but also excludes nothing.
‘I’m not yet about to take [anything] out, “she said.” We like the account as it is. “
The Republicans of the Senate were particularly concerned about the provision that removed certain legal protections currently offered to law enforcers in many states and territories. The Republicans, known as qualified immunity, are needed to protect law enforcers from unbridled lawsuits.
Rep. Karen Bass
Karen Ruth BassSunday shows preview: 2024 hopefuls gather at CPAC; Home lightens coronavirus relief; vaccine effort continues with Black Caucus members to push Biden to reinstate Shalanda Young for OMB chief George Floyd Police Reform Bill in House MORE (D-Calif.), The original sponsor of the bill, said she intends to counter the criticism by examining places where similar reforms have already been carried out.
“The states have embarked on all kinds of reforms,” Bass said. “And the sky did not fall.”
To be sure, the proposal has a greater chance of garnering dual support than another major piece of the House Democratic agenda, HR 1, a comprehensive package that overhauls the campaign funding system and restores certain voting rights.
As it currently stands, the police reform bill will review national policing standards at various levels.
Racial profiling at every level of law enforcement will be banned; choking containers, neck killings and warrants without beating would be banned at the federal level; qualified immunity for officers would be revamped and a national misconduct register of the police would be created so that officers dismissed due to such discretions could not be hired by another police department.
Although the bill would not technically require a ban on certain reforms such as state and local stitching, it would set the new federal standards as thresholds for police departments to meet if they wanted to continue receiving federal aid.
The legislation was initially introduced to the House last summer after George Floyd, a black man, was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
Floyd’s death, as well as the murder of police on Breonna Taylor, led to a summer dominated by nationwide protest rallies by Black Lives Matter, demanding thorough police reform and the root of systemic racism.
In addition to Bass’ bill in the House, Scott and Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulSenate Confirms Rouse as Biden’s Leading Economist Overnight Health Care: 50 Million Coronavirus Vaccines Given | Pfizer news | Rand Paul, nominated for Biden health, criticized more over interrogation of nominee for transgender health (R-Ky.) Submitted their own proposals for police reform in the Senate and underlined the dual nature of the case.
Scott’s bill, the JUSTICE Act, covers many of the same aspects of concern addressed by the Democrats’ bill, such as the ban on choking. The Paul’s Justice for Breonna Taylor Act aimed at banning warrants without beating – the technique that led to Taylor’s death – something that would have banned the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
The road to negotiations on a bill that would pass the equally divided Senate can be difficult, after all.
Scott said in a statement on Tuesday that he was open to discussing the proposed abolition of qualified immunity for officials, a political controversy, but called the House version of the bill ‘biased’.
“I hope my friends will come to the table across the aisle to find common ground where we can make meaningful changes that will bring us closer to the goal of a fairer country,” Scott said.
Mike Lillis contributed.
Updated 22:55