Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Palazzo opposed this legislation when it was passed by Democrats last Congress and has instead backed the JUSTICE Act, which would increase transparency, accountability, and performance so our nation's law enforcement officers (LEOs) are better prepared to protect and defend our communities.
"The provisions included in the police reform bill were drafted without input from law enforcement officials and Republicans in the House. Democrats' goal to dismantle and defund the police is an extremely dangerous path to take and makes our communities less safe, which is why I would urge them to reconsider such an extreme agenda. I am proud to back America's law enforcement officers and will work to restore funding for their work through my position on the House Appropriations Committee."
Top concerns with H.R. 1280:
- Defunds the police by way of unnecessary unfunded mandates on law enforcement agencies
- Eliminates qualified immunity protections for federal, state, and local LEOs, which protects LEOs when reasonable mistakes are made in high-pressure situations
- Lowers mental standard for federal civil rights lawsuits to allow officer convictions even if the officer had no specific intent to deprive a person of a federal right
- Creates a broad registry of police misconduct that includes complaints that are not adjudicated and final
- Limits access to surplus equipment through the Department of Defense's 1033 program that law enforcement agencies use to protect officers and serve communities in life-threatening situations such as natural disasters
- Bans no-knock warrants in drug cases without consideration of exceptions that provide for the safety of law enforcement and the community
Palazzo has backed the JUSTICE Act, which accomplishes the following:
- Improves transparency by requiring additional reporting, including annual reporting on the use of force and reporting no-knock warrants
- Ensures law enforcement agencies and officers are held accountable by developing accessible disciplinary records systems
- Provides $500 million for state and local law enforcement agencies to equip all officers with body cameras
- Bans the use of chokeholds except in situations where deadly force is authorized
- Improves training for LEOs by directing the Attorney General to develop training curricula and provides appropriations to pay for costs associated with training
- Includes Justice for Victims of Lynching Act, making lynching a federal crime
- Establishes a bipartisan commission on the social status of black men and boys to issue a report to Congress on conditions affecting black men and boys, including education, health care, financial status, and the criminal justice system
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act has also received strong criticism from law enforcement associations, including the National Association of Police Organizations as well as the National Fraternal Order of Police.
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