Transcripts For CSPAN House Judiciary Committee Debates Justice In Policing Act 20240712

President announcing an executive order, steps, and incentives. Without objection the chair is authorized to declare recess at any time. Two, thee 11 clause adopting of an amendment for which the yeas and nays are recorded. We havent you militarize and distribution list dedicated to circulating amendments. Exhibit motions and other written materials members may want to offer as part of the hearing. If you would like to submit material submi them to the email address submitted to your offices and we will circulate them as quickly as we can. I would ask members in person and remotely to mute your microphones when you are not speaking. This will prevent feedback and technical issues. You may unmute yourself when you seek recognition. Before we begin, i want to note the passing of the beloved wife of our colleague jim sensenbrenner. She was a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. She was a loving companion for 43 years. I know i speak for everyone on the committee in offering our deepest condolences to jim and his family. May her memory be a blessing. I would now recognize the Ranking Member for any comments he may have. Those kindiate words. Jim sensenbrenner is a wonderful human being. Well, butnow cheryl she is the same and 43 years together a special. And hisught to keep jim family and our thoughts and prayers. I yield back. Thank you. Before i make my Opening Statement i want to briefly address new guidance from the sergeant of arms that the office of the attending physician released yesterday concerning of prevention of the spread covid19. For the u. S. House of representatives and meetings in limited close spaces for greater than 15 minutes, face coverings are required. This new advice is based on the best available Scientific Evidence we have about how the spreads. Us it is based on the best practices issued by the Trump Administration centers for disease control, supported by the worlds top Infectious Disease experts, such as dr. Fauci and dr. Birx. The attending physicians new whichce says meetings in individuals assemble for various reasons of the country appropriatebers and social distancing is difficult to maintain are at the highest risk for transmission of the disease. One critical means to reduce this risk is to wear a mask. Wearing a mask helps prevent you from getting sick from the deadly virus and helps prevent other people in the room from getting sick. After this we will go home to our loved ones. Wearing a mask helps prevent them from serious illness as well. Decorum in our proceedings includes making sure we conduct our business in a safe manner. In light of the new guidance i fully expect all members on both sides of the aisle to wear a mask at all times if youre not speaking. If youre not willing to wear a mask house rules allow you to participate remotely from your Office Without being physically present in the room. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 7120, the up hr justice and policing act of 2020 for purposes of markup and move the Committee Report the bill favorably to the house. 7120 holds Law Enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improves transparency through Data Collection, and Reforms Police training and policies. Without objection the bill is considered red and open for amendment at any point. I recognize myself for an Opening Statement. Last week George Floyds brother sat in this room and told us of the pain he felt watching the video of his brother being killed in Minneapolis Police officer. He gave voice to the pain all of us have felt over the last few weeks. He also spoke to the anger of knowing george floyd was only the latest in a too long list of victims of Police Brutality, disproportionately people of color. He spoke that dramatic reform is needed. Congress has done very little. Mr. Floyd charged us with making sure his brothers death would not be in vain and pleaded with us to turn the pain and anger we feel into meaningful change. His words echo the voices of millions of americans who have taken to the streets in the last few weeks to seek justice and demand action. Today we answer that call. We value and respect the brave and Honorable Police officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect us and our communities. Those of us here in 1998 will never forget the courageous actions and sacrifice that initol Police Officers made this building while protecting others. We owe them and the other officers killed in the line of duty each year a debt we can never repay. That includes patrick underwood, who was shot and killed in the ago. Of duty several weeks we must acknowledge too many Law Enforcement officers do not uphold the ethic of protecting and serving their community. Manyad the reality for too americans, especially africanamericans, is that Police Officers are seen as a threat to their liberty, dignity, and too often their safety. This is not a new problem. Centuries of systemic and Structural Racism has affected all of our institutions. We see it in the rate of covid deaths, mass incarceration, and economic inequality, all of which fall disproportionately on africanamericans. We see it in the harassment and Excessive Force people of color routinely face by too many Police Officers. Beenmistakable message has sent to africanamericans in this country. That they are secondclass citizens, and their lives are somehow less value. Let me state clearly and unequivocally that black lives matter. George floyd mattered. Breonna taylor mattered. Eric garner, tamir rice, walter scott, Laquan Mcdonald mattered. Rayshard brooks mattered. The countless other people who lost their lives at the hands of Law Enforcement mattered. Andfar too long Police Justice reform have fallen on deaf ears in congress, that changes today. Actjustice in policing would finally allow for meaningful accountability in Police Misconduct and reimagine policing in the 21st century. This legislation, which currently has 227 cosponsors in the house, and 36 cosponsors in the senate, makes it easier for the federal government to successfully prosecute Police Misconduct cases, banned chokehold, into racial and religious profiling, encourages prosecution independent of local police, and eliminates the courtmade document of qualified immunity of civil rights lawsuits of Law Enforcement officers. At the same time it works to prevent Police Violence and bias through front end approaches aimed at encouraging departments to meet a Gold Standard in training, hiring, deescalation strategies, bystander duty, use of cameras, and other best practices. The goal is to achieve a model of not warrior, policing. Data on key policing matters, including a first ever database on Police Misconduct incidents to prevent the movement of dangerous officers from department to department. No knock warrant and the militarization of policing and lynching is a federal hate crime. The bill does this while using no federal funds for Police Departments except for mandated Data Collection and repurposes existing funding for the programs. It creates a new Grant Program for communitybased organizations to create local commissions and task forces on Police Innovation to reimagine how Public Safety could work in an equitable and just way in each community. I want to thank the gentlelady from california who chaired the crime subcommittee who sponsored this legislation for her work in crafting a bill that is bold and transformative to meet the moment that calls out for sweeping ris reform while taking a responsible and balanced approach to the many complicated issues associated policing. I want to thank the members of this committee you have worked on and introduce legislation included in the legislation before us. Activiststhank the leading protests across the country. It is because of you we are here today considering the most significant reforms to policing in a generation. It is because of your energy, your determination, and your demands for justice that the nation has awakened to the need for action. To the families of those who have lost their lives at the hands of Law Enforcement, everyone in this room mourns with you. Today we will offer more than just sympathy. Today we are proposing meaningful change. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Pledges to study the problem are not enough. Half measures are not enough. To the members of this committee, the justice in policing act is our opportunity to show the world we are listening and will respond with a real and lasting reform. We must not let this moment slip away. If we find ourselves here again, listening to the heartbreaking testimony of another grieving family member, wondering why we didnt act when we had the chance, it will be a stain on our legacy. We must not let that happen. I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation. I recognize the distinguished Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, the gentleman from ohio, mr. Jordan, for his Opening Statement. Rep. Jordan i should point out for the members are calling from kentucky, mr. Barr, lost his wife last evening as well. We want to think about the barr family as well. Foreign fundamental principle should form the framework for Public Policy four fundamental principle should form the framework for Public Policy. What happened to george floyd was a tragedy. It doesnt happen again. Their families deserve to see swift justice for their killers. Peaceful protest is important. Its part of our First Amendment liberties. We have all engagedi in it. Theres a big difference between peaceful protest and rioting, looting, violence, and attacking our Police Officers or forming these new autonomous zones we see in seattle, whatever the designation is. There is a big difference. Third, the vast majority of Police Officers do a great job. They risk their lives every day community. Our they are the individuals who rushed into the twin towers on 9 11. They are the individuals on capitol hill who protect us every day. They are the guys in our community who put on that uniform every shift and risk their lives, and we should remember that as we develop policy and the Judiciary Committee. Defunding the police and dismantling Police Departments is one of the craziest policies i have ever heard. Two weeks ago the president said in his speech in florida, laid out the mission clearly. He talked about healing not hatred, justice not chaos. Those words underscore what we heard from George Floyds brother and week ago. Just last week when he sat here in such a compelling way, talked about three simple words, one sentence. Life is precious. Life is precious. George floyds life, Ahmaud Arberys life, Breonna Taylors life, Rayshard Brookss life. Each life is precious. Everyone understands that. We have an obligation to make improvements to Public Policy that recognize that basic fact that was said so well by word floyds brother last week. The president understands it as well. Yesterday he gathered the families of fallen Law Enforcement officers and the families of victims of Police Brutality at the white house as part of his executive order that lays the groundwork for beginning to address these real concerns. Even before the executive order, this administration worked with us on good policy, good strong policy. Allcollins, mr. Jeffries, of us on this committee with the first step act. Real prison reform. This administration has worked to support historically black colleges and opportunity zones, school choice, where we Work Together. I hope thats what happens today. I hope my colleagues on the democrat side of the aisle will work with us on the many amendments we plan to offer that we think function within the four principles i talked about, and will help deal with the situation. They didnt start off that way. Not one single republican was consulted with the bill we are marking up today. You introduced it and and talk with us. I hope today you will embrace our thoughtful amendments we plan to offer. Amendments consistent with the constitution, the rule of law, those four principles, and easter floyds words that life floyds words mr. That life is precious. I look forward to the next several hours that we can adopt republican amendments that we think will make this legislation the kind of legislation our country wants us to develop in the house Judiciary Committee. With that, i yield back. Recognize the now gentle lady from california and sponsor of this legislation for her Opening Statement. Mylet me begin by offering prayers to representative sensenbrenner. He is my travel partner to africa. We have traveled several times together and have had many conversations about his wife, from the time she first took ill two over the last few years. My prayers and thoughts are with him. Two weeks ago the world witnessed a horrific crime on the streets of minneapolis come the slow, torturous murder of george floyd. I want to acknowledge the murder of dave patrick underwood. Last week we were able to hear about him. And members, you may or may not have heard, the person who killed him was arrested yesterday. Person hadut that deliberately infiltrated the protesters with the objective to kill Police Officers. He was a member of a right Wing Organization that believed in creating chaos. Im glad that arrest took place. The tragic death of george floyd has galvanized the nation to look at our history. Black americans have been sadly marching for over 100 years to bring attention to this gross injustice we have faced for centuries. We have marched against abuse and for the police to protect and serve our communities like they do elsewhere. In the 1950s news cameras exposed the horrors of legalized racism. Hasthe cell phone camera exposed the continuation of violence directed at police. Thisicans by ad truth is when people told stories of police abuse and murder at the hands of Police Officers, they werent believed. Even when there were videotapes, questions were asked. We dont know what happened before the camera went on. When we heard about this person who was killed, we question their background. Maybe they had a police record. Even if that was the case, what happened to arresting someone and the presumption of innocence before Proven Guilty . Technology and active citizen involvement to document and expose this ugly reality. Understanding the problem isnt enough. We need fundamental change. That is why chairman nadler and cosponsors,h 227 introduced the justice in act. Ing this transformative legislation will assist Police Departments to change the culture, raise standards of the profession, and hold those officers accountable cho fail to uphold the ethi of serving their communities. I dont need to repeat whats in the bill, you will hear about it through the day, but im certain Police Officers want to be free to intervene and stop deadly force when it is not necessary. You may have heard about the Police Officer who intervened last year when one of her colleagues had a person in a choke hold and she was afraid this individual was going to kill this Police Officer this Police Officer was going to kill this person. The africanAmerican Woman, she intervened. She got fired. I believe most Police Officers would have rendered aid like she did, and would have stopped what happened. I believe Police Officers want to be trained in the best practices in policing. To help support officers, this will create the First National accreditation standards for the operation of Police Departments. National standards for officers. When i met with the fraternal order of police, they requested this and said they had been trying to get National Standards for years. They were doing it in a retail manner. If we are able to pass this legislation with teeth in it, it will help them. Hem. Despite our best intentions, some officers will cross the line. That is where there are accountability measures. A profession where you have the power to kill should require highly trained officers who are accountable to the public. Our country is at a crossroads. For the first time i believe america is beginning to question, learn, and understand the hard truths that surrounds policing in our country. I say one of the things most painful to africanamericans is when we describe our interactions with police, and win our experiences completely rejected because someone else has not had that experience. To hear people say, i have always had positive interactions with the police. Your interactions, i dont believe they actually happened. Now the world is witnessing the birth of a new movement. This has spread to many nations. People are marching to demand not just change, but transformative change that ends Police Brutality and racial profiling. They are marching to demand meaningful and substantive change. That is why we must support the justice and policing act that will be called the George Floyd Justice in policing act. People dont want to see their efforts water down. As i said last week if this had been the law of the land eric garner in george floyd would be alive because it bans chokehold. Last year, Breonna Taylor would not have been shot to death 12 times in her sleep because no knock warrants for drug arrests would have been illegal. If the National Registry would have been in effect it would have revealed the officer who killed 12yearold tamir rice had been fired from another department and had a propensity for violence. He never would have been hired by another department, and this made tamia rice would graduate from high school. Police officers are left to pick up the pieces. Police officers are the first to say this is unfair. They werent trained to be social workers or health providers. Homelessness and Substance Abuse are health and economic problems. In los angeles we have a geo called the twin towers with inmates. Of in los angeles we refer to it as the nations most expensive Mental Health institution, because the majority of the people in the jail suffer from mental illness. This did not happen overnight. 1990 i started an organization in South Central los angeles to address a health and economic problem society was criminalizing. That was the problem with crack cocaine. What we did, we didnt expand drug treatment. People. Incarcerated many of those people are in prison today. The justice in policing act reinvests in our communities and empowers them to shape the future of Public Safety through grants and communitybased organizations to develop solutions. After 1990i watched as the federal and State Government slowly divested from communities, reduced resources for services, and we had to increase resources for prisons and police. We are at a crossroads in our society and we have to decide. Is the way we will proceed the ay every time there is health, social, and economic problem is our solution going to be to solve the health, social, and economic problem, or to spend more, more, and more money expanding Police Departments and building prisons . I support the Police Officers, and i support their cry when they say when you dont fix societys problems you leave us to pick up the pieces. That is unfair to them. They are not trained to do that, and it doesnt solve problems. We all want to be safe in our communities, we want the police to come to our rescue when we are in trouble, and we support the who put their lives on the line for us. When we interact with police we want to be treated with respect, not suspicion will stop and we shouldnt be in fear for our officers. Acting with it took me many years to get over the fear of those lights coming on behind you. Not fear that i was going to get a ticket, but fear that my interaction with police might result in me not surviving. This is not just an issue for black men. For black women as well. Millions of people are marching and raising their voices to call out for Police Reform. We are here to enter those calls. Today is an opportunity to reimagine Public Safety so it is just and equitable for all americans. I hope my colleagues on the others of the aisle, when i hear many of our proposals have been incorporated in what i hear coming out of the senate in a different way, not as strong or powerful, but it makes me feel there is a pathway for us to do this. The American People are waiting for us. The whole world is watching us. I yield back the balance of my time. Rep. Nadler i now recognize that Ranking Member of the [inaudible] thank you, mr. Chairman. One thing has become clear over the past several weeks. Americans have looked to this committee to lead in working together regardless of Party Affiliation to find Common Ground on the issues before us. Our constituents and people of this country expect and deserve that. In my opening remarks last week i and others made clear the willingness of republicans to work with the democrat majority on the committee to find Meaningful Solutions that will help build trust in communities and restore faith in our institutions. I think we all agree on three Core Concepts improvements are needed in transparency, training, and termination policies for the rare bad apples in Law Enforcement who violate the law and legitimacy that uphold the character of our legal system. The same Time Congress has to be careful to uphold the respect and appreciation due to every American Patriot who serves us blue line. Some of the progressive base and liberal members of congress and City Council Persons are calling for the defunding of american police. This is pure insanity. Every day our Law Enforcement officers are putting their lives on the line to protect our communities from violent crimes, home invasion, sex trafficking rings, gang violence, and domestic terrorism. It was noted yesterday in 2018 alone, the Police Arrested 12,000 people for murder, 20 5000 people for rape, and 1. 5 Million People for assault. Who will do this if we dismantle and dissolve our Police Departments . This is a recipe for disaster, and every reasonable person can see that this is a recipe for disaster, and every reasonable person can see that. It would have been unthinkable a few years ago. The second problem is with the broken process and flawed product it has produced. All this bill has important and wise provisions come the legislation presented from markup is not the result of deliberative proceedings at all. Despite the fact that we had clear bipartisan consensus on the need for meaningful reforms and a rare opportunity to set an example of working together across party lines for the best interest of all americans. The democratic majority has locked us out of the room, and instead produced a bill that includes provisions that will have a negative impact on communities most affected by crime, and on the safety of officers who put their lives on them. Ne to serve i serve as the Ranking Member on the constitutional civil rights and Civil Liberties committee which has jurisdiction over key areas addressed by this legislation. The bill was released 10 days ago, and my subcommittee, which could have been an ideal venue to build consensus, has been afforded zero opportunity to meet and consider the complex issues before us. My colleagues and i will introduce key amendments to try to repair and improve this bill. I hope they will be adopted by our friends on the others. What we need and the American People deserve is a thoughtful andogue, common sense, valuable input from both the majority and minority. Key we are ground is going to accomplish the ground of keeping our Community Safe, upholding the Civil Liberties of individuals, and protecting the legitimacy of Law Enforcement. Yesterday in the rose garden president signed his executive order and mentioned, americans know the truth. Without police there is chaos. Without law there is anarchy. Without safety there is catastrophe. We need leaders at every level of government with the moral clarity to state these facts. Americans believe we have to support the brave men and women in blue who keep our streets safe. Americans believe we should improve accountability and community engagement. Reducing crimes and raising standards are not mutually exclusive. They Work Together. The president has done his part and now we must do hours. I pray we Work Together at this important moment to solve these pressing problems. Thank you. I yield back. Rep. Nadler without objection all other Opening Statements will be included in the record. I recognize myself to offer amendments. The clerk will report the amendments. Amendment to hr 7120 offered by mr. Nadler of new york. Rep. Nadler without objection the substitute will be and based as read text for amendment. I will explain the amendment. The amendment would first and foremost change the bills short title to the George Floyd Justice in policing active 2020. This is a fitting tribute to mr. Floyd, whose tragic death sparked a Worldwide Movement in support of the reforms in this bill. I urge my colleagues to honor his memory by supporting this amendment and the underlying legislation. We know there are countless other victims of Police Violence, and their tragedies are reflected in this bill as well. The amendment makes a number of technical changes, as well as limited changes to clarify and strengthen existing authorities in hr 7120amendment would strikh penalty for the sentence is currently permitted under 18, which makes it a im for person acting under color under any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the constitution of the laws of the United States. It would clarify the Immunity Section so that it is more clearly focused on Law Enforcement personnel, and includes federal Law Enforcement officers parted it would investigations, particularly by state attorneys general parties it would clarify the operation of the Police Misconduct registry to make clear that information concerning misconduct by officers involving misuse of force, and racial profiling will be made public. And it would limit the use of facial Recognition Technology in connection with body camera and dash Camera Police footage required under this legislation. I urge all the members to support this amendment, as well as the underlying bill. I recognize the gentleman from ohio, mr. Jordan for any comments he may have on this amendment. Jordan are there any amendments to the nature of the substitute . Mr. Chairman, thank you for the leadership of this Committee Power a thank you to the chairwoman and the Congressional Black Caucus, and all of the members, who have gathered here for a significant day in the history of the United States of america. I think the real question has to be, what is the value of black lives . Are black lives value . Is a black life valued . Are all black lives valued . Living in the skin that i live in for obviously for all of my life, being around my family members and others in the community, i realize that question has never been answered by this nation. It is difficult to hear the rejection of the understanding of the systemic call of racism that has plagued every aspect of our society. So, what we do today is a message that dr. King gave us many years ago, that he might not be able to change hearts, but he can change laws. The sadness i feel today is mixed with joy because it we had passed these bills we worked on over a decade ago, if after our visit as a Judiciary Committee to new york, after the killing of a black man. We moved on legislation we had been filing for years and years, yes, lives would be saved. If we had been able to move on the lawenforcement integrity act named after george floyd about 10 days ago, we might have been able to enhance the words protect and serve, and at the same time, we could say we mourn the loss of any Law Enforcement, but may be we have been able to keep more of them alive. And yes, we have and yes, we would have seen more black boys go home to their mothers, like eric garner, tamir rice, and Laquan Mcdonald, shot many times in his back. Im grateful for where we are ay hemi im grateful for im grateful on behalf of the george floyd family parent what a provocative statement mr. Floyd made. Heir pain is so deep be see it every day in our community. We are still we see it every day in our community. Murals ande it in paintings of george floyd. I remember something mr. George floyd said in this hearing room. He wanted justice. When i told him our efforts to name this bill after his brother were successful, the work that we did collectively together to get it named, and it is in this amendment. He thanked us publicly yesterday in houston. And so, what we have to deal with now is to recognize that dr. Kings words were correct. We have to change laws in order to change hearts, and even further correct this is a time why we cannot wait. We cannot wait in houston because we know the story of danny thomas, pamela turner, and so many others that have never been in the line of justice, but they lost their life. But as the world saw a man pot life seep out on the streets of america, they said no more. Im grateful we have legislation to in racial profiling so it can become law that you cannot racially profile africanamericans, the descendents of enslaved africans. We celebrate this week, juneteenth, that recognizes that we are the only group, that have been in bondage in this nation. There is anguish, there is patriotism. We served our country, and so, the value of this patriotic legislation is that we are moving beyond conversation. We cannot have anymore more conversations. We are ending racial profiling. We are firming civilian review , and givinging them them subpoena power. What an amazing step toward opportunity and justice. So, i would say is we continue this debate, i seek the partnership and friendship of my fellow americans. They may wear the label of republicans, but they are friends. They are friends because i mourn the loss of chairman sensenbrenners wife. Mr. Pressed my sympathy to barr as well. Inis the moment that we say america that africanamericans, black americans, deserve the same human decency and recognition of their humanity as anyone else. I ask the question do black lives matter . We will start the conversation it will continue to answer by passing this legislation. I yield back. You, ms. Airman, thank jackson. I want to recognize the presence here of our former colleague, mark meadows. For what purpose does mr. Stroll seek recognition . For what purpose does mr. Armstrong seek recognition . Amendment to the amendment and the nature of a substitute, offer by mr. Armstrong of north dakota and at the end of the bill, the following and conform the table of contents accordingly. Without objection. Mr. Chairman, this is a simple amend. Requires that thew enforcement record audibly [inaudible] whether they are in custody are noncustodial. There are narrow exceptions for confidential informants, and there are retention requirements for 10 years, or in the case of capital cases, until the case is disposed of legally. And this is an important amendment, and if our goal is to hold lawenforcement and countable accountable. We require federal uniform lawenforcement to carry body cameras, but even as this bill introduced, if it would pass, there is an incentive, which exists where that person being arrested or detained and turned over for an interview, there would be no requirements for that body camera to stay on, or for any recording device to exist. It is time premiere lawenforcement agencies get into the 21st century. All of the arguments in the past used for not recording interviews simply dont exist. Was too expensive. It was too cumbersome. Doesnt allow for the free flow of conversation. We know that is not the case. We know that because the fbi said so in a 2004 memo. And again, the doj did in a 2005 memo that says in custody interview should be audibly or visually recorded. But in custody becomes an interesting term in art we are dealing with federal Law Enforcement. To the fbi and doj, in custody only applies following arrest and prior to the initial appearance when the defendant is in a place of defense detention with suitable recording equipment. Apparently federal Law Enforcement is the only group of people in the world who dont know how to use a smartphone. Interrogations can often last for hours, and notes cannot account. After often happen years those interviews making it ridiculous to believe that agents can recall specific details if they are not recorded. And sometimes agents feel compelled to lie. But when those same witnesses are subject to lie back, they are often charged with the im or their plea deal is revoked. We know that this has happened. In the Michael Flynn case, there were two different 302s filed. 302s take on this err of federal authority. 302 is an officers note. It is an officers view of a transcript. You can give it a title, but that is all it is. In the first one was filed three and a half weeks after the interview. What is ridiculous. Can you recall a conversation you had three and a half weeks earlier regardless of what you were doing . But more troubling is the second one was 3. 5 month later. Three and a half months later, the redacted and revised 302 was filed. That should not have happened. Those interview should have been recorded. In the Paul Manafort case, in february of 2018, Jesse Jackson held a hearing in that case to do with lying lawenforcement, and we know exactly what happened in that hearing because there is a transcript of it. Unfortunately, we dont know what happened in the 12 interviews they conducted with Paul Manafort because there is not a transcript of any of them, and that is not done by accident. That is not done out of convenience. That is done intentionally. And so, during that hearing, the judge sided with the prosecution in that case. But she said on the record, this is a problem with not having grand jury testimony, but having to look at the 302party i may not be able to resolve it as a 302. She should not have to to. Recorded interviews protect Law Enforcement. They protect criminal defendants. They reduce verdicts on the court system as they reduce jury trials, and probably most importantly today, they increase public trust in lawenforcement, and that is something we drastically need at this point in time. With that, i yield back. Back. Gentleman yields examine this to amendment further. If the gentleman would withdraw the mma, we will work with the , we will send it onto to the rules committee. [inaudible] will the gentleman withdraw the amendment so we can examine it further with the rules committee . Not at this time, the mr. Chairman. The gentleman from rhode island . I move to strike the last word. The gentleman is recognized. I want to begin with this prescience i want to begin with my sympathy with sensenbrenner for the loss of his wife. Recognize theo subcommitteecrime and the Congressional Black Caucus on this historic legislation. Before we convene, my thoughts turned to dr. Martin luther king jr. To the year where heat was gunned down, dr. Gagne visited my district in rhode island for an address on civil rights. I have not lost faith in the future, but i never intended to adjust myself to the madness of militarism or racial inequality. 50 years later, we are here once again because of the madness of racial inequality, and in our country, black people or five times as likely as whites to be arrested for the mayor suspicion of a crying. Police are four times as levy to use force when encountering a black suspect. Is a criminal Justice System so often victimizes people of color because it is built on a foundation of racism that was laid while the civil war was still being fought. In january 1860 five, Congress Passed a resolution proposing a 13th and mimicked to the constitution to outlaw slavery. While the 13th amendment abolished clearly and replaced it with the system of racial control that allow black people to be arrested on minor offenses, and put to work as unpaid laborers, we are still living with the legacy of that decision today i that decision today. Complexon industrial has devastated generations of black men and women from jim crow, the war on drugs, and the continue intimidation and killing a black men, women, and children today. The killings of george floyd, Breonna Taylor, tamir rise, eric garner, and so many more black americans are just the latest in a long line of modernday lynchings that cry out for justice. It is our solemn responsibility to finally correct the painful injustices of the past 155 years. We must pass the George Floyd Justice policing act because george floyd mattered, and because black lives matter. This bill makes it easier to hold bad cops accountable for their actions. Foremoves barriers prosecution for officers who violate a persons civil rights. The doctrinal qualified immunity has created when it was impossible to get justice for those from Police Misconduct. Never again should and officer feel empowered to choke the life out of an unarmed whose im was selling loose cigarettes. Never should officer killing unarmed black man and the back runs away part in to end the eire of officers without trust, police cannot do their jobs. It is hard to build trust when a Law Enforcement looks like a soldier primary we need Police Departments to be trusted institutions in our community and advocates for the community who lived there. This bill increases transparency on departments to meet a standard in training, hiring and deescalation strategies. It establishes a database of civilian Police Encounters, including the use of traffic stops and requires the collection and analysis of such data. Also requires the collection of data on Police Misconduct to track and prevent bad cops from moving from one department to another. Crackingses bias by down on racial and religious profiling. Bans the use of chokehold and no knock warrants. Taking these steps will help saved lives, ensure accountability and improve Public Safety. All of us here know we can do better in this country. We can and systemic racism of policing. This andnities deserve so do the overwhelming number of officers who do their jobs with honor every day. As dr. King reminded us in another speech in rhode island in 1966, the appalling silence of the good people is a serious is the vitriolic words of the bad people probably people. Rise to this moment and set aside politics. Join us in fixing what is broken in america, and we will look back on wednesday and that together, we made a difference. As George Floyds brother reminded us, your words will become your names to become famous like his brother if you pond or Racial Injustice respond to Racial Injustice. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. Strike the last word. So recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Republicans will not support the defunding of police, the dismantling of police, the demonizing of police. We will not turn our streets over to the warlords, though some have, and perhaps even others in the United States congress would. It is hard not to know as we gather here the extent to which hangs over this committee hearing. The death of spouses of two of our colleagues in recent days. The death of mr. Floyd. The test of the Law Enforcement officers who seek to keep our communities safe. The death of those who otherwise have passed in these riots. Leaders bring life into meaningful reforms, and i think we have the opportunity to do today, and i wanted to congratulate the bill sponsor by bringing together ideas that give me hope that we could breathe life into meaningful reform. The president has led on these issues. The president s executive order yesterday builds upon the hearing that we had last week. It builds upon the themes that were developed, the evidence that was presented, and im grateful that President Trump did not wait around to take action, but he took action immediately on issues like choke holds, bad cops, and databases that can inform more sound policing. I believe even more can be done. I believe the reforms on no knock warrants have merit. I believe there are some immunities that we can look at to ensure that policing is improved. Im hopeful my democratic colleagues will undertake the spirit of reform in a bipartisan way, and will review our suggestions as offered in good faith. The gentleman from north dakotas amendment is offered in good faith, and i would like to speak about it for a moment. Federal no excuse for Law Enforcement in this country not to take a recording of an interview so we are not left peoples memories from these interviews are right i believe that the legislation on body cameras is very productive. But if we can move policing into the 21st century on body cameras, can we at least move the federal Government Entities that we control into the 20th century . Can we at least ensure that we dont have another circumstance, like the russia hoax, where as a consequence of federal agents, who had well exceeded their authority as lawenforcement officers when they became political actors, when they wanted to deprive the people od president , when they took interviews and then characterized them falsely, politically, we did not have recordings to go back to an all of those circumstances are and if these things can happen to general flynn, if they can happen to people working on a president ial campaign, i can only imagine the number of times where the fbi might have had someone in an interview, and the lack of a recording allowed the government to deprive people of their rights, to characterize things inaccurately. So, i know that republicans are motivated to adopt the gentlemans amendment, in large part because we saw the devastating consequences of the lack of clear record and the russia hoax, and that was very embarrassing for the congress. But i think it is demonstrative to the broader point that if our desires to improve policing and to create better balance in the relationship that police have with those they are serving, this is undoubtedly a good amendment. I will conclude with this, if the overall theme is to keep police engaged and proactive in their communities, you are going to find the president and republicans in congress very willing to work with the democrat majority in the house on those issues. However, if the goal is to keep the cops in the car. If the goal is to have police so deprived of all of the use of force they might need to preserve their own lives, if the goal is to have police essentially on a level Playing Field with cartels and criminals when it comes to their equipment, then we would be unable to support that because that would be the manifestation of an effort to defund, dismantle, and demoralize the police, not an effort to improve the police. Worknt to inform, improve, together, and we hope our democratic colleagues will take this amendment and others offered in good faith, and you will speak out against the dangerous efforts to demoralize those were serving us. I yield back. Back. Gentleman yields thank you pard i moved to strike the last word. Offer my deepest condolences to our colleague, mr. Sensenbrenner and the loss of his wife. Thank you mr. Chairman, and thank you chairwoman for really doing such good work. So timely, timely, and really needed. The past two months have giving us too much to fear, to any lives to more apparent we have lost loved ones to a fires you givingsk before, and us too much to fear. The racism that took my son jordan for me, but our strength as a nation has come in our ability to come together to address our greatest challenges. We are coming together as we check on our neighbors with preexisting conditions who cannot go to the store. We are coming together as we march against injustice. Today, we come together to honor the life of george floyd and Breonna Taylor, and so many others, and we are doing it with action, and for that, im completely filled with hope. This bill will strengthen our communities, restore trust and Law Enforcement, and ensure the safety of every american. This bill will say lives. I have been thinking a lot about some 3417 that says when the righteous cry out for help, the lord hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles. The righteous are crying out and they are marching and demanding justice. And we hear you and we see you. So many of our officers nationwide are truly upholding their duty to protect and serve. They have entrusted their communities and as a result, they are better at ensuring everyones safety. These officers know the people they serve. They see them as brothers and sisters and neighbors, and their departments reflect the diversity of their communities. We do have officers who serve with honor, who respect the dignity of every citizen. This bill is about making sure that every officer and every department is held to the High Standard set by offices like these. It does that by ending racial and religious profiling because everyone deserves to be treated equally under the law. This bill invest in communityoriented policing. Georgia, ourf officers know that they must earn the respect of those they serve, and they do own it. Last weekend, i walked with families, community leaders, city officials, preachers ma Police Officers in a solidarity march through georgia. Walked with a pastor and the police chief. We pray together as a community. Talked about rebuilding and restricting and restructuring the community. We talk about where to be go from here anyhow everyone of us has a role to play. The George Floyd Justice and policing act reflects a spirit that affirms that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and viewed equally in the eyes of the law. This bill underscores our commitment to communityoriented policing that promotes everyones safety. And ensures accountability for those who failed to uphold their duty to protect us. And it rewards cities that are finding new ways to promote Public Safety. How we haveoud of come together as a nation, finally come together as a nation. To work towards these solutions. And im really filled with hope, for the first time, im truly filled with hope that these actions that we take today, these collaborations, republicans and democrats, together, will truly say lives. Kinks toat there are work out, and i know that there are amendments to be made, but this step that we take today is a first step in truly creating the culture of safety and preservation of life that people in this country are crying out for. , anave a responsibility accountability, and dear we not do what needs to be done. This is 400 years overdue. Lets stand in the gap and do what has to be done for all of our citizens in america. And i yield back the balance of my time. The gentlelady yield back parade thank you, mr. Chairman. Thatment was made earlier weakenedwant this bill , and im not aware of any republican that has an amendment that willed that would weaken the bill. We would like to make it stronger, and deeply regret we were not consulted to help make this a truly bipartisan bill coming out of the gate. There is an awful lot of people , weur side who understand need to make the law better. And should. And many of us have worked in Law Enforcement and spit many years in, and have good insights enforcement and spent many years in it and have good insights. Armstrong has a good amendment here. The only issue i have with anything that he said, or in the amendment is when he said, we need to bring the federal authorities into the 21st century. As my friend mr. Gaetz pointed out, if we could just bring the fbi into the 20th century, it is a big help, and for anyone who some that there is still racism in Law Enforcement or content it is a tiny percentage of food it it is still there, we , allowing the fbi to simply write down their version of what is said by a witness, instead of doing what every cop on the street knows needs to be done, and that is a recording of what is said, the fbi is going to be able to either by faulty memory, or by sway the manner in which a witnesss statement is portrayed, and what is said is portrayed power i that should not be allowed. And what is said is portrayed. That should not be allowed. Fbi was the preeminent Law Enforcement department in the world. That is been sorely blemished. This would go a long way toward preventing any officer, any fbi officer, whoderal has ill intent from being able to carry that out because the ,tatement is a matter of record it would be recorded it could not be edited, it would have to be played as it was, and that would help eliminate even the temptation of any federal officer to be less than candid in their efforts to recall what was said by a witness. That could mean the difference between many, many years in prison, or being the free person that he or she should be. So i hope that we can come together. This would have been a great provision to have in the bill, and it would have been suggested , and encouraged if we had been consulted before the bill was brought forward power i forward. So i really hope he can come together on this. There is no reason not to have federal officers as proficient and accurate as local Law Enforcement in some of the smallest counties in the country. With that, i yield back. Back marytleman yield the gentleman yield back. The gentleman is recognized. , to express condolences to the Sensenbrenner Family and the tragicmily with the losses they have endured in the last 48 hours. Testimonyerful received last week as well from mr. Floyd and mr. Underwoods sister, and we have continued to individual country, and institutional tragedies that must move us to act. Otherwise, they will persist. We are not helpless. People in the streets feel helpless. They feel like they are not being listened to. But we are not helpless. We are elected to bring the change that they are calling for. But i think it is important for us to calibrate were all of us are at because it sounds like my colleagues on the others want to welcome and embrace and work with us on needed Police Reforms. Not to say all cops are bad cops. But that we are seeing two men exceptions today. I say that as the son of a police chief, the brother to two Police Officers, and a former prosecutor myself. Things have to change. No one is talking about in this the police. Talking about policing the police and fixing the police, and reforming the police. Calibratewe need to where we are all that, i have heard my colleagues on this site say black lives matter. I will be honest that when that Movement First emerged, i didnt necessarily understand what that meant. I heard people say, all lies matter, and i said, all lives matter, right . People would say i have white and i said i grew up going to 11 different schools, first in my family to go to college. There wasnt any privilege there. Then it was explained to me by my africanamerican friends that even though you when your friends had hardships to your opportunity was not limited because of the color of your skin. That is what people say when they talk about white privilege, which is real powerade it should be acknowledged. The founder of black lives matter, alicia garza says black lives matter doesnt mean your life isnt important. It means that black lives whitcher seen without importance or point your liberation. Given the disproportionate that stay violence has on black lives, we understand when black people in this country get free, the benefits will be wide reaching and transformative for society as a whole. We are able to know and the sexualization of black people and control the surveillance of black people, every Single Person in this world has a better shot of getting and staying free. When black people get free, everyone gets free. Black lives matter. Period. Myi would yield to any of colleagues on the republican side who can unequivocally say as we calibrate we are right now that black lives matter. Gentleman believe all lives does the gentleman believe all lives matter . Republican can can anyone on republican can anyone on republican side say black lives matter . All lives matter. Othersolleagues on the dont want to have the uncomfortable conversation we need to have about legs. And police shootings, most of the folks is on the conduct of the officers and we dont get to the harder part, about the systemic issues we have in our country. Nobody is disputing with the officer did here with mr. Floyd should be defended. So we have to have the harder conversation about systemic issues and policing. Instead, we get this strawman of, well, youre trying to defund the police. Nowhere in this legislation seeking to defund the police. Until you are willing to get rid of the strawman, get rid of the confusion, get it of the different tactics you are using to avoid the hard conversation about race, we are not going to to havee we need to be equality, not just in policing food in jobs and education. Black lives matter. Matter black lives do matter. Is important unequivocally. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. I support the gentleman from north dakotas amendment. It is a good amendment, and the gentleman from florida, mr. Gaetz is right on target. Interviewing interview cf. That interviewing a threestar general doesnt have to record the conversation . That does not make sense. Agent ony of 2017, the the Michael Flynn case, a threestar general who served our country, the agent on the case said you want to drop this case. There is nothing here. They did not want to pursue it. What happened . Told thetor of the fbi agents, no, dont drop the case. Youre going after Michael Flynn. Day, january 5, 2017, jim come meets with president obama talks about Michael Flynn and what happened 19 days later . Agents snuck into the white house. Mr. Comey does follow the proper protocol and doesnt advise the white house counsel. He sneaks them into set up Michael Flynn, and there was no recording of that interview. There there is the 302 note. Guess what they do with the notes . They change them month later and prosecute a general, prosecute american citizen based on that. And all the gentleman is asking is, lets fix that. Lets have the audio recording of the conversation that took place. And the democrats say, we need to study it. What . Lets just pass it. Lets gettz said, with the times. Lets get with the times. We are doing a virtual hearing and we cannot even see half the democrats were supposed to be participating. But somehow, the fbi can interview american citizens on something that turned out not to be a crime. You guys want to study, making an audio recording of those types of interviews. This is as basic and straightforward as it gets. The gentleman from north dakota knows what he is talking about. He has worked in this area. Lets adopt this amendment, commonsense, thoughtful, good amendment, that needs to have been in light of what we have lived through the last three years. What we now know took place. This is as straightforward as it gets. I would urge the adoption of the amendment. Remainingto yield the two minutes to my colleague from florida. I think the gentleman. I would just add in the effort we are here to offer amendments that would applied all americans equally, as we are here to craft legislation, like the theatrics of serving up question on a political theme, seem to be a bit misplaced. It would be as if i were willing to yield to any democrat willing to say that Blue Lives Matter. Right . Not super productive. If we acknowledge all lives matters, there are definitely problems in our society we have to solve that the congresswoman has put together some very compelling ideas we should evaluate in good faith. That the president has already acted on some of the congresswomans ideas by trying to get to the root of these problems. I hope that would be the way we would continue the hearing. Yield back to the gentleman from ohio. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. For george today john, Breonna Taylor, williams, and all the names that we will never know whos lives were cut short by police. We are here to answer the cries for justice. Bill, george floyd the justice and policing act, a bill that the New York Times has called the most aggressive intervention in policing in recent memory, and im very grateful to you chairman nadler and congresswoman bass for your hard work to bring this bill forward. In my district, people are colored a more likely to have police point a firearm at them than white people. Black people accounted for nearly 29 of the incidence of use of force. We have been under a dissent decree for eight years, and while we have made some important steps, we are far from finished. The Immediate Use of force on the street to the Peaceful Protesters and recent weeks show us the work you still need to do. Locally track nationally, on november 2019, a report by the u. S. Commission on civil rights found an increased likelihood of police use of force against people of color, people with disabilities, lgbtq people, people with Mental Health concerns, people with low incomes, and those at the intersections of these groups. They also found a troubling lack of data on the issue. A problem that leads us piecing together reports in order to understand the depth of the problem so many lack and brown people across the country already noted be true. Mapping Police Violence found where7 days in 2019 police did not kill someone, and black people are 10 times more likely to be killed by police in white people. And stunningly, nationally, officers were not charged with a im in 99 in the killings by police with a crime in 99 in the killings by police in 2019. It is any wonder that many people are heartbroken and furious that we have not done sufficient work, or really anything to address these grave injustices and the constant loss of life accountability power the justice and policing act is a crucial step forward to begin addressing centuries old pervasive violence against the black community in communities of culler. The bill fans chokeholds like the ones used to murder george floyd. It establishes them as a civil rights violation, bans no knock warrants for drug cases like the one used on officers murdered Breonna Taylor padre it establishes the Police Misconduct registry that tracks complaints at the local, state in federal level, and it adopts accountability measures. It improves Data Collection by requiring the reporting of all incidents of use of force, stops, and searches, and the demographics of those involved. Grants across the country to reimagine how we ensure Community Safety for everyone, so that black mothers and fathers do not have constantly warn their kids to stay away from Police Officers instead of seeking help from them. That cannot be our model. And this bill begins to make the changes that will allow for everyone, regard as of the culler of their skin, to be safe. Mye of the media some of colleagues on this committee would like to change our focus from these essential reforms to things i digitally altered pictures on fox news that spread lies about what is happening in my district come over Community Members have come together the Plan Community gardens and green vision Public Safety and bring muchneeded peace to an area that has long been the center of activism. Do not be distracted. Let us keep our focus on what is in this bill and what is demanded we dupe are rated not george floyd to be a picture on a tshirt the justice in policing access to the families of george floyd and so many others, the wrongful death of your loved ones will not be in vain. We must listen and respond to the calls of black organizers, advocates, and civil rights leaders of because our districts and countries, and do the long culture shifting work to change how we approach Public Safety. , police are responding to decades of the funding, things that people really need. Mental health, housing, education, reforming a broken criminal Justice System, and so much more. It is pardon parcel of what we must it is part and parcel of what must be fixed. We must do the work. Time. I yield back. Representative bux. Thank you, madam chair. I want to state unequivocally that i believe black lives matter, and also want to state unequivocally that i recognize you have lived a privileged life. I want to welcome you and so many others on your side of the aisle to the prolife movement. A key. About the sanctity of life, and i think it is time that we deal with this issue, and that we find Common Ground on other issues, and protecting life from conception to natural death is essential to the dignity of people in this country, and i welcome my friends on all of those issues. That it isk outstanding, and i think the gentlelady from california and the chair of the subcommittee , for recognizing the difficulty that Police Officers face in their day to day lives, and how we as a failed ine body have dealing with Mental Health issues and so many other social place onnd how we Police Officers, an unfair burden. While i believe with parts of this bill, there are parts of this bill that would place a greater burden on most Police Officers on the good Police Officers, the officers protecting our young as they go back and forth to school who are protecting our citizens going to the store picking up a prescription, as they are protecting our citizens in their everyday lives, i think it is absolutely essential that we recognize, and i thank the lily and i thank the gentlelady recognizing police have such a difficult job. I have mentioned to my friend and colleague mr. Armstrong that i cannot support this amendment. I understand the compelling reason behind the amendment, and i believe the fbi should be held accountable for the gross misconduct that it engaged in with investigating the trump campaign. When we require, out of custody , werviews to be recorded are going to seriously limit the fbis ability to carry out its mission in the antiterrorism era and so many other areas, where it is very difficult to predict when an interview is going to take place, much less how to foster the best atmosphere for that interview. So, i have reservations about this, but i think one of the serious feelings of the do just the area committing in the past year and a half has been its theure to fully investigate gross misconduct that the fbi engaged in with the Trump Administration, and the trump campaign. I think when you look at the actions, and what has been revealed so far in the press and in the senate, it compels this committee to study the issue, to hold hearings on the issue, to publicize, to shine light on that misconduct, and to make sure that misconduct doesnt happen again. Against a democratic or republican administration, and it is so unfortunate that my democratic colleagues feels is it that my democratic colleagues feels is it is ok to sweep something under the rug. The target of this misconduct were republicans. And it was somebody they did not lie, President Trump our eye while you conducted a President Trump, while you conducted a witchhunt. A down the line vote on impeachment, you cannot even agency how a federal engage in power to political activities, something that i think we all find sad atbly offensive and the fbis leadership would tarnish the image and the great work that is being done by so many fbi agent. My colleague mr. Armstrong for bringing this amendment, and for shining a light on the serious problem we have in the fbi, and i look forward to making sure that we do everything we can to expose that behavior, and i yield back. Thank you. You. Ank i think it is a Good Opportunity for us to regroup, and remind america why we are all gathered here today. We are here, like congresswoman bass said earlier, for fundamental change, change our communities are calling for. The deaths of george floyd, Breonna Taylor, ahmaud arbery, and just over the weekend, Rayshard Brooks, have called he have caused pain and more division in our communities, and what people are peacefully marching for this change. All of us today have the opportunity, my colleagues, we have to have the courage to confront the crisis headon. And we have the responsibility in congress and on this committee to pass laws at the federal level that will hold Law Enforcement accountable for their actions, and ensure that they are protecting and serving our communities. I know that we can all agree on that. Might constituents my constituents in my district indicated to me that is what they are asking for, greater accountability. My Office Conducted a survey over 1200 and we got responses from constituents on both sides of the aisle, different ages and races, and what were they all in agreement with . That they wanted to see greater accountability for officers accused of misconduct. And what have we seen . We have seen thousands of americans from all walks of life marching together, demanding change. What the people want to see our changes for those who fail to uphold the law, and they want to know that the law is applied equally to everyone, every american citizen. I have witnessed in my area that Law Enforcement in my area are making changes. They are trying. I have met with them, and i commend a large number of officers were working to serve and protect the people they serve food accountability means transparency, and the efforts in this bill establishes a National Registry for Police Conduct that requires reporting on the used fors. We need these changes. We also working on the front end to addressing the systemic racism that is in our society and in our government. The reality is people of culler live with an face people of color live with an face prejudice throughout their lives. Our agencies need to enact thisms and that live up to tentative equal protection under the law. We need to take action that ends racial profiling bans chokeholds, and sets a standard that use of force should only be used as a last resort. What the president signed as an executive order yesterday does not go far enough, and we have seen that when a new president takes over, they can repeal the executive order signed previous president s. That is why as an independent branch of congress, we need to enact these measures into law. An insurer we banned chokeholds, and ensure we ban chokeholds. Act. Roud to enforce this [inaudible] i am also for this bill because we the Greater Community Law Enforcement. It will build bridges between police and the community, giving the people [inaudible] have ure officers to this ensures public trust. Miamidade county looks at revising civilian oversight. But it is only effective when it is structured correctly. That is why this sets a baseline for effective civilian oversight, and i think more work can be done to bolster agencies across the country. Lets not get distracted by political talking points. Us are working together. Lets show the American People that we will take action and we have the courage and will to make sure we hold the Police Department accountable. Thank you. The gentlelady yields back. For what purpose does the gentlelady from pennsylvania seek recognition . Man, but intle understand, things are fluid today. I yield to the last word. I have heard some of my colleagues try to talk about the fact that the Democratic Party does not want to defund the police, but lets look at their own words on this matter. This is all in the words of individuals in the democrat party. Brian fallon in early june, the executive director of demand justice. He is also the former press secretary to hillary clinton, and he is a spokesperson for eric holder. He tweeted defund the police. On june 5, representative omar, she represents minneapolis, she tweeted and i quote the Minneapolis Police department has proven themselves the andra form. It is time to disband them and reimagine Public Safety minneapolis. Minneapolis city councilmember jeremiah ellison, who is the son of Minnesota Attorney general keith ellison, he tweeted, and i quote we are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police department, and when we are done, we are not simply going to glue it back together. Youre going to dramatically rethink how we approach Public Safety and emergency response. It is past due. Ellison also publicly pledged his support to a leftist terrorist organization antifa. The president of the Minneapolis City Council tweeted we are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police department. Cofounder of the lack lighters cofounder of the blm movement wants Police Departments defunded completely. Safety areublic calling to disband our Police Department and start fresh with the communityoriented, nonviolent Public Safety and outreach capacity. Garcetti isor looking to defund the police to the tune of over 250 million of cuts. We constantly hear from the last that words matter. Democratsatter and if want to and this is in their own words for the democrats want to defund, dismantle, and abolish the police. Mr. Chairman ella these are their words mr. Chairman, these are their words, and their words matter. If i can address 1. I heard today, i heard one of my colleagues trying to minimize the autonomous zone in seattle. The six square blocks in downtown seattle that antifa has taken over. I have heard it minimize that it is a peaceful protest, lewd to something we allude to something we have seen in the 60s, but lets but let me quote the chief of police. The police chief carmen best said and i quote race, robberies, and all sorts of violent acts have been occurring any area and we are not able to get to them. Before we minimize chaz, think about that. Rape, robberies, and all source of violent acts. Lets call it what it is, terrorist organization that is taken over six city blocks in and being my colleagues on the others of the island minimizing this behavior and allowing rapes, robberies, and all sorts of acts to occur under the name of peaceful protests. My friend andield colleague from the dakota. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I think this is where we are at. This type of reform is really not all differences are ideological. Hes a prosecutor, im a defense attorney. I would be more susceptible to his argument if the fbi had not specifically circumvented what they consider custodial versus noncustodial. Regard, we are asking state and local departments from the federal government to do a lot of things at the very least, we can require basic technological and fundamental fairness with what is supposed to be the premier Law Enforcement agencies in the country. , ithe point about going watched the amendment die in some black hole that i dont get to be in the room, thats why were here. We need to do these things here. This is simple. Before my time runs out, i got some unanimous consent request. Titled electronic recording of confessions and witness interviews. Two thousand 14, subject concerning electronic recording of statements. A report of Northwestern University school of law center for wrongful convictions in the summer of 2004 police experiences when requiring custodial interrogations, the Justice Project electronically recording interrogations and juryfically, the grand target tracking key issues in whitecollar prosecutions. I yield back. Without objection, the gentlemans time has expired. I recognize mr. Scanlon. May i moved to strike the last words . Gentlelady is recognized. Thank you so much. I have to correct my good friend representative since she called out my city, los angeles. Our mayor did not defund the police in los angeles. On any given day, we have 40,000 people who were homeless. 4000. What he did was reallocate money to address the problems that the Police Department never wants to deal with. Thank you, i yield back. Thank you. Everyone who has worked so diligently to bring the George Floyd Justice in policing bill before us. Longoverduesing a moral reckoning in this country, and we cant wait any longer to act. In the week since we held our last hearing, another black man has lost his life at the hands of the police. When he was shot in the back in atlanta. We have to act now. I want to thank the gentleman from north dakota for bringing this promising bill to our attention, and i look forward to working with him on it to include it in the final bill. I appreciate him bringing his experience as a prosecutor to propose a substantive amendment. Defense attorney. Sorry, defense attorney. But bringing that experience in this field to us to work to make the bill better. I particularly appreciate the seriousness with which he approaches the issue of actually addressing Police Accountability rather than making irrelevant political arguments or suggesting toothless proposals that will not make the changes we need to dismantle systemic racism in our country, and with that, i yield back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I moved to strike the last word. I moved to strike the last words. Thank you. Mr. Chairman and members, i want to say that i respect representative bass, and i think that she works hard. There are parts of this underlying bill that i agree with. And i think this parts of this underlying bill that most republicans and the president could agree with. ,ut its disappointing that from what ive been told, there was no reach out to republicans to work on this bill, and so there are parts of this bill that i cant support. And the reason that i cant support it is because i talked to constituents and Law Enforcement officers. A wide variety of law. Nforcement officers in response to representative small well wanting in republican to say black lives matter, mistress wall well, of course black lives matter. Of course. My life matters. Native american lives matters. Hispanic lives matters. Everyone lives matter. And so do unborn children that botched from a abortion, which republicans have brought forward. I think 80 to 100 times a motion on the floor of the house of representatives saying please, give medical care and save the life of unborn children that are born alive. Failed. Democrats have the time i had left ideal to mr. Armstrong. Mr. Chairman . Mr. Is recognized. I recognize mr. Cohen. Thank you, mr. Chair. This is one of the most important hearings this committee will have. Because what has happened in minneapolis has brought the to problemsention that this country has had since 6019 when the first slaves were brought into this country. Slavery until 1863. The emancipation proclamation and into the civil war. And then we had jim crow. Nd then we had post jim crow a continuation of a racist policy we have for years to keep black people down and not give them rights, not give them opportunities to participate in the american dream. To have health care. To have education, to have job training. Do not be discriminated against in housing, in employment. Bear. All came to that is the issue that brought us here today. George floyd. Officer witholice no concern for humanity, one of the most cruel acts ever witnessed live by individuals on the screen and immediately thereafter by recordings, video recordings, where we all saw that officer put his knee on the neck of a man who said i cannot breathe, and he did not give a hoot. Because he was a police man who had been upset that mr. Floyd apparently did not cooperate in getting to the backseat of a car, and he was going to teach him a lesson that he would remember for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Not forever, but for mr. Floyd, it was forever. Eight minutes 46 seconds became forever because he did not do what a policeman wanted him to do. And a policeman doesnt have that power and he didnt have that power in atlanta. Wendys ran at the away. He had a taser. A policeman is not supposed to kill somebody because they are running away with a taser. Not use deadlye force, but they did for the same reason that mr. Floyd was killed, because that officers ego was hurt. Because that man got away from the officer, he got that officers taser and he was going to teach him a lesson. Police should not be teaching people lessons and kill them, they ought to teach them lessons that you really should not do this and let me explain to you why. And there are a lot of policeman that do that, but there are quite a few bad apples, and they are mostly focused on africanamericans, because they focus on people who have the least power in society, because thats where they get off. What i heard last week and what ive heard today from my republican colleagues has been disheartening. America should be repulsed by it. This year is about police, it is about racism, it is about overuse of force against individuals that cost them their lives. Its not about abortion. Its not about Robert Mueller. It could be, but its not about him. Its not about trump. Orange lives matter. Its not about that. Its not about defunding the police, and it is not about officer underwood. Its about police overuse of force often against africanamericans and america not doing what it should have done rightfully by the people they enslaved and treated as secondclass citizens for so many years. Bruises isg up these a disrespect to every africanamerican and every rightthinking american. Last week inwe got the hearing. They didnt ask questions about the bill, they talked about defunding the police. Then they go, this person, this democrat. This one and that one. Steve king talk about white supremacy. That doesnt mean everyone public and was a white supremacist. About the way they are interpreting it, any one person talking at defunding the police. Mr. Underwood was brought here to talk about the riots. That was a bit and switch, too. Officer underwood was killed by a guy who killed the santa cruz sheriff, and that is when i saw that he used a white van, and found out that he killed the officer. A white supremacist member of a group called boogalo that wants to bring about the impending civil war. Were not talking about getting reports of premises for people who wanted white supremacists, but that is of a are talking about, because they wanted to switch from protesters to rioters. We are all against rioters, we are all for the police. I think they can be improved upon, but lets get to the issue today, and that is unjust policing and unjust practices against africanamericans. I yield back my time. Mr. Johnson six recognition. The gentleman is recognized. I wanted to get just one further response to mr. Small well who asked this question. Apparently he has not been listening to his colleagues. Has saidvery one of us unequivocally over the last few weeks that there is inherent dignity and every single life. Not just americans, every life around the world. Interview,n every ive said in her subcommittee hearings and in this hearing before in Opening Statements, that its not just that lives matter, its that every single human life has dignity and value, and our values are not related in any way to the color of our skin, where we come from, what zip code we live in, where we went to school, how talented we are, what we contribute. None of that is relevant. Every single human life has dignity and value that was given to us by our creator. Explained,further and so have my colleagues, that this is an essential thing, it is essential. We find this as our foundational creed, we find it listed in the second paragraph of the declaration of independence, our nations birth certificate. English philosopher who said america is the only nation in the world that is founded upon a creed. We hold these truths to be selfevident. It is something you cannot not know. Why is that . Because it is stamped upon your heart by your creator. All men are created equal. Remember, the declaration does not say we are born equal. Its as we are created equal by someone, by god. And because we are created by god, he gives everybody the same inalienable rights. Among these rights are life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. This was a promissory note to. Uture americans of ourst line constitution says we do this in order to form a more perfect union. What the house Judiciary Committee is about is working together to form a more perfect union. My friend, i dont know how youve missed all this, but we are all united on that. Needs toree that the be meaningful reform, but what were doing here is having thoughtful dialogue and debate, exactly the kind that was envisioned at our founding, to form and come together with the best answers that will advance the ball for the most American People. Thats part of the process. And part of this thing that we have lamented today is that we havent been part of the process yet. The democrats proposed this bill , went together in a room somewhere, and did not allow us in. We respectfully requested to be part of the process, staff reached out to staff. If everything that he just said and others have said is true, if you really want to have meaningful reform, if you really want to improve american policing in a way that will work and will maintain Public Security and safety, it seems like he would be open to the thoughtful ideas that we have on the other side. We ought to be doing this together. As i said in my Opening Statements, the American People expect that and they deserve it. We dont need partisan squabbles, we need all of us to Work Together and to treat one another with dignity and respect that are declaration entitles us to and that the founders recognized was a selfevident truth. I appreciate others acknowledging the thoughtful amendment of armstrong. He comes to this very thoughtfully, we had a meeting last night. Background, his expertise, and he has a lot to offer. Weve got 20 other amendments here that are equally thoughtful, and we all do have an important debate, i hope the American People are watching this, i hope they are recording everything we say. Lets not engage in these squabbles about whether we all think life is precious because every single one of us does and when we get beyond that, we can get on to the meaningful work of the community. In response to the gentleman from tennessee, he said this hearing is about police, its not about Robert Mueller. I know that it seems like impeachment was a very, very long time ago, but the gentleman from north dakotas amendment doesnt target Robert Mueller or the operations of his team. It seeks broadly to affect this process, but specifically, the circumstances we described occurring before Robert Mueller. Before he was ever appointed, before there is even a basis for this embarrassing post. You had james comey telling the fbi to go and entrap general flynn and they did not use recordings. Butust would seem illogical we are to insult from that discussion our own fbi. I think the fbi is a relevant topic when talking about police. Thank you, chairman nadler. For your hard work on this legislation. I want to start by noting that the officer who put his knee on george boyds neck was a member of the White Supremacist Group that was arrested for killing patrick underwood. Very few republican officials will say that, the president hasnt been able to say it, the Lieutenant General has not said it, most republican members of congress have not been able to say it. Why does that matter . You cant fix the problem if you cant even identify the problem. If you say black lives matter but immediately qualify it with all lis matter, all lives are precious, it shows that you dont understand the problem. The problem is we have a system that does not treat all life as precious. A system that consistently undervalues black lives. Do Blue Lives Matter . Of course. The system already protects blue lives. Is all life precious . Absolutely. Except the system does not view it that way. Thats why were here. Let me give you an example of what i mean by this system. Thatsnt just one lone cop killed george floyd. It was an additional two police who stood as lookout, but there was no training involved. They were trained in procedure that obstructed peoples airways. And then there was the Minneapolis Police department who gave an entirely misleading account of what happened. And then there were the civilians and Police Officers who viewed his prior misconduct and did not take Strong Enough action. Forakes an entire village the persistent, systematic murder of black americans by government. You dont get that, if you think that this is just about a few rogue cops, you dont understand the problem. Right now, black americans are killed twice as high as white americans by Police Officers. Thats not a few rogue cops, thats the entire system. Are there good cops . Are most cops good . Absolutely. Just like most people on this committee, i hope all of us, think we are good people. But good people can perpetuate a bad system. That hasrt of a system repeatedly discriminated against minorities. Just take this pandemic. Black, latino, native american, asian, they die at higher rates than whites. Housing in ourd prisons, theres a huge disparity between colored people and whites. And we are part of that system. We helped to create it. Does that make us that people . That is for historians to judge. Been made aware of the Police Brutality against black americans, we have a responsibility to fix it. And the first thing we have to do is to understand the problem. The problem again is that black lives are being undervalued. By the you can help us to fix. His problem this is a systematic problem, not a matter of a few rogue cops or a few bad apples, please understand that. Please be able to say black lives matter without qualifying it. Show us you get the problem. I yield back. The gentleman yield back. Who seeks recognition . The gentleman is recognized. We seem to have gone far afield from the amendment before us. Mr. Armstrongs amendment simply requires federal Law Enforcement to record interviews with suspects and witnesses. One of the provisions of this bill that i strongly support is the encouragement of Police Cameras to accurately Document Police encounters and interviews with the public. Theres a very important reason for that, it provides us with an eyewitness that has an absolutely perfect memory, a video, that would protect Police Officers and the public alike. Mr. Armstrongs amendment is perfectly aligned with this provision. Just as a police video eliminates all doubt about what happened in a particular encounter, including what was said, this provision eliminates all doubt about what was said in a particular interview. I dont see how anyone who supports the use of Police Cameras to document encounters would oppose a provision that would use a Police Recording to document interviews with suspects and witnesses. Support this amendment and what ask that the majority consider it. The gentleman yields back. I would remind the gentleman and other gentleman that for the safety of their colleagues and the house, should be wearing masks. Mr. Jordan. I now recognize mr. Raskin. Thank you, mr. Chairman, and im sending my condolences to the loss of their beloved wives. Life is precious, as the Ranking Member reminded us, drawing on the words of George Floyds brother. Ofe is precious in the midst the pandemic which has cost more than one under 15,000 lives. We can show that we truly believe life is precious by wearing masks. Mr. Chairman, the whole premise of government, a civil government, is that we will be safer inside the social contract then we will be outside of it. In the state of nature, which Thomas Hobbes said was a state of war, solitary, nasty, brutish and short. The exchange that happens with revenge and tribal justice will trust in the rule of law and the Impartial Administration of justice. It has been a majestic dream echo with racist poison. Where was the social contract for george floyd, as officer chauvin pressed the air out of himbody and asphyxiated over eight minutes and 46 seconds where was the social contract for the 26 role emergency room technician who was shot at least eight times in her body in her own bed, never even having been charged with a crime by officers executing a no knock warrant . Where was the social contract afteryearoldtamir rice a snowball fight in a park in cleveland. Where was the social contract for michael brown, eric garner, Rayshard Brooks . Social contract for africanamerican citizens who often experienced ear of the police, whose salaries they are paying. Is justice in policing act the beginning, just the beginning of repairing the broken social contract in our country. It requires the deadly force to be used only when absolutely necessary. It stops militarizing Law Enforcement and therefore stop confusing the police, whose job it is to protect and defend our people with the army, which is trained to kill the enemy. It requires body cameras and dashboard cameras, it ends religious profiling in america. It removes the perverse doctrine of qualified immunity and civil rights lawsuits so that neither federal or state and local officers cant escape liability for violent assault against citizens, simply by showing that their exact misconduct, no matter how egregious, had not taken place in exactly the same way before. These are the bare minimum changes any of us could accept or should accept. That is, not knowing whether we and members of our families will be a citizen with a knee on our neck. Would being fathers proud of this package. The vast majority of because additional amendments in the bill of rights are efforts to control the police power of the state. The third amendment, no quartering of troops. The fourth amendment, no unreasonable searches and seizures. Based on probable cause. The fifth amendment, against selfincrimination. The jury trial. No double jeopardy. No cruel or unusual punishment. Our founders understood that tierney begins with the abuse of police power, and the social contract begins with protecting the dignity, the safety, and the security of each and every citizen and their families. An officer who irrigates to himself the power to kill a citizen who has been subdued appoints himself not just cop, but legislator, prosecutor, judge, jury, executioner. Appointedauvin himself god when it came to the life of george floyd. The good cops in america, most of the cops in america, and reform and oppose the favor reform and oppose the actions of him and those who stood by and did nothing and watched him murder a citizen. The good cops should not be faulted for the crimes of the bad cops because here, we dont believe in corrective guilt. Guilt by association and mass punishment, the principle that we had to invoke repeatedly in this committee. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. Moved to strike the last word. The horrific killing of george floyd that led to millions of americans speaking in the wakeaction of his tragic murder, and im glad we are here to address it. I was deeply moved by the testimony last week and had high hopes that we would be able to find a bipartisan way to move forward on real performs. Im disappointed that the debate over solutions has been sidetracked by leftist anarchists and refusal by many on the other side to reject those in seattle and other whoes across the country want to defund the police. Are dedicated Police Officers who served the communitys work to ensure that lawlessness does not prevail in our streets and neighborhoods. The anarchy within seattles autonomous zone is an example of what defund the police would look like if implemented across america. I believe there are many ways we can continue to Work Together rather than put forward policy that divide us. Angress should be working in bipartisan manner to ensure that Law Enforcement develops and utilizes the tools and tactics to keep our communities safe while protecting the rights of the people they serve. While it is wellintentioned, we must make additional changes to the bill in order to strike a balance on reform while respecting the need to maintain the rule of law. Many of the policies included for us are ideas that can achieve bipartisan consensus. Increased Data Collection about officerinvolved shootings, prohibiting the use of choke holds. Crime,lynching a federal reducing the militarization of our police forces. Those are all areas we can potentially find bipartisan consensus. Unfortunately, this bill was crafted without the input of republicans, and we need to make revisions that not only protect citizens, but ensure the foundational principles of the rule of law are respected in order to get this legislation across the finish line together. It means spending more time here in this room today, and we could have avoided a lengthy day today with complications occurring before the market today. As a committee, we should be working together to find solutions to the pervasive problems that exist in our nation and ensure that all americans are being ordered access to justice under the law. Yesterday, the president made it clear he is committed to keeping our communities safe, and ensuring a fair Justice System for all americans. I truly hope we can seize this moment so that americans can come together and i hope as legislators, we can craft a solution today to make our Community Safe while strengthening the bonds between our fellow americans and ensuring justice for all. I yield back. Think you, chairman nadler, for bringing up 7120, the justice in policing act. I also want to thank the incredible work of these many weeks in crafting this legislation. Lot ofshes engaged a stakeholders and has made many conversations with chronic and republican members of the house as well as the administration, and i thank her for her leadership. For many duties at the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus and the subcommittee, she has taken it upon herself to be a mentor for black members of Congress Like myself. Im very grateful for her friendship and her mentorship. I also just want to say that i certainly appreciate my friend from north dakota in terms of his thoughtfulness, and i recognize that he approaches the issue in good faith. I will be unable to vote in support of his amendment, i think mr. Buck raises some important points with respect to unintended consequences. But i also think it is worth considering as we move the bill to the floor. I want to talk about ultimately why we are here today. As a nation, we continued to feel the pain and stress over the recent killings of so many. However, these latest killings are rooted in generations of inequality and injustice. It is time that Congress Addresses the disparities in policing and create meaningful and structural reform, which is why we are taking up the justice in policing act, which i do believe is a bold and transformative future legislation that will ensure accountability, establishing a national use of force standard, bringing transparency into policing, standing at the firstever National Database of civilian Police Encounters and providing additional tools for the department of justice to root out. I also want to emphasize why, in my view, this amendment offered by the chairman is so important. As we all know, the Civil Rights Commission has the statutory power to investigate unconstitutional patterns of practices of racial bias and violent policing. It has been a successful tool in the past. That theit is a tool attorney general has refused to use in minneapolis or other areas and ultimately of the truck administration has largely discarded. There is no question that these investigations resulting in consent decrees have had an impact and played an essential role in performing a troubled Police Department and academic evaluation of los angeles, cincinnati, pittsburgh. Court order reforms are likely the result of departments having a stronger, more capable accountability infrastructure, and more robust training. Unfortunately, the doj demonstrated that it is unwilling to use the tools that congress has provided to address these issues, so we must look to our state attorneys general. We call out our attorney general and for most amendments that would provide express authority to state attorney generals to conduct these investigations that they are in a unique position to use and understanding of Historical Context in their respective states, and its imperative that they fill this gaping hole that has been left by the attorney General Department of justice. Im grateful to chairman nadler for including this amendment before the committee, and support its passage. Again, put simply, im proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. I appreciate my colleagues considering it respectfully, and i would certainly urge them to support this bill. I yield back. The gentleman yield back. Who seeks recognition . The gentleman from california. Dr. Thank you, mr. Chairman, can you hear me . Yes, we can. Thank you very much. Ive moved to like to move to strike the last words, please. First of all, let me express my condolences as well to our colleagues for their families losses. I would like to also thank you, mr. Chairman and chairwoman, for your work on this legislation. Let me just say that this represents a lifetime of work for you, and i totally agree with you, we must have change, and change has to happen now. And it has to be meaningful change because our communities demand that we regain the public of our Public Safety officers. You said something in your Opening Statements that struck me, which is that we should not expect relief to fix our social issues police to fix our social issues. You have a very good point. One of the issues that i would like to take note is our National Drug policy right now. Federal policy essentially outlawing cannabis. As you know, when we talk about wealth disparities, over 650,000 americans are arrested every year for violating canadas law. Aclu, in everye single state, black folks are more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. In some states, 10 times more likely to be arrested than others. Many communities have lost many of a ones to incarceration will not under the practices that have led to these demonstrations were seeing today, decriminalizing cannabis will be a major step in the right direction. As you know, last week during a community here in, professor butler stated that legalization of cannabis will help create equal justice under the law. And congress, in my opinion, must move to address decriminalizing cannabis. To yield, i would like the balance of my time. The gentleman yield back. You, mr. Chairman. I want to join all the others in expressing my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. And i thank you for the extraordinary work that you all have done on this bill. It completely continues to baffle me that they think this is all about defunding the police. I hope that theyve read the bill. I dont see anywhere in this bill, anything about defunding belize, disrespecting police, or anything that would cause anyone to think that. Mr. Chairman, i think we need to take a deep breath and really look into what we are talking about today. For congress to make systematic changes on issues of racism, Police Brutality, and racial profiling. But for an end to the unnecessary use of force by the police that has resulted in the deaths of one to many black and brown americans. The responsibility falls with each and every one of everyone is that treated as a child of god. The reality is that george floyd was not treated as a child god, when they repeated his last words i cant read. He could i cant breathe. George floyd to be forgotten like many others before him. We must bring up this issue to ensure that george is not just as electedack life, officials, it is important that we inform our civil rights statutes to protect black and brown americans who just want to live and breathe and just walk down the street without fear. Justice demands that we must put to racial profiling, white supremacy, and the issue of racism that continues in america. That americans be made whole for being denied their rights as americans. Is there anything that history has taught us . It is that our office boldly affirms that, yes, black lives matter. We cannot keep ignoring this is a country. We arelatino community, affected by Police Brutality and racial profiling. , it iseek out the truth with our to stand Black Brothers and sisters on these issues, because we are affected together. Is theve that this bill right step in the due process that is necessary. As you know, i come from texas. A statement of some to millions of latinos and blacks. State thatly, its a has been deeply affected by multiple incidents of Police Brutality over the past few years. These incidents have been conducted with force. I thoroughly believe that this bill would make americans safer by guaranteeing Police Accountability under the law, and requiring Police Community relations. This bill will save lives and respond to the gross injustices that have resulted in the deaths of so many. George floyd, eric garner. I say the names because today, we are honoring them with real transformative action. Amendment,pport this and i strongly urge all my colleagues to vote for the underlying bill that is so critical to make real transformational change in this country. We must do it and we must do it now. I yield back the remainder of my time. The gentlelady yields back. To what purpose does mr. Jefferies ceo recognition . Thank you, for your leadership. I thank the chairwoman for her tremendous leadership as well. I dont doubt that this amendment is being offered in good faith. I do not support it, and it has also let us into a discussion that is irrelevant as it relates to the question at hand. The video of George Floyds byder was not brought to me a fellow member of congress, it was not brought to me by my chief of staff, it was not brought to me by my legislative director. It was brought to me by my young, black son. He presented the video to me and simply said, it happened again. Dad, what are you going to do about it . Thats why we are all here. Not to talk about Michael Flynn. Thats why americans of every race are in the streets, demanding justice and systematic change. What are we going to do about it . Its not about Michael Flynn. Aboutre we going to do eric garner . What are we going to do about tamir rice and walter scott . And oscar grant . What are we going to do about sandra bland. What we going to do about george floyd . Forarrated his own death eight minutes 46 seconds. We are not here to talk about Michael Flynn. Thats beneath the dignity of this institution and the lives that have been lost. Other young people across america, my young son says he wants to go in protest. And of course, like any father, i have concerns, but i let him do what he thinks is right. I have to have that conversation with him again. Withso many of us have had our young black children. Make sure you have your id with you. Not because you are a threat, and not his drivers license, because hes too young to be able to drive. That, your, without high school id, someone in Law Enforcement may think that you are a threat and can detain you for that reason alone. And some may even look at you as a threat because of the color of your skin, just like they did for the role tamir rice. Say, doourse, i had to not respond or react to any unjustified abuse against you. Thats what eric garner did. He said ive had enough. Breathe he said i cant 11 times and was choked to death. Completely in are the right, youre being harassed, you are being abused, you cant respond. Because it may result in your life being taken. Of course, i had to say, if you are detained, dont say anything, dont sign anything. You, thatey say to you will be let go. Happened tothink the central park five . They were given false confessions by Law Enforcement to sign. So we not here to talk about Michael Flynn. Problemere to solve a of Police Violence, harassment, and the absence of dignity that has occurred not month after month, not year after year, but decade after decade after decade. Thats why we are here. And thats why i support the justice in policing act. I yield back. To what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition . Thank you, mr. Chairman. Anybody who think this amendment isnt relevant has no idea how Law Enforcement works. And before we get too far into this, i want to reiterate, without this amendment, this is what happens. A federal agent required where a body camera. Required to have a dashboard camera. In the very scenario we were turn itabout, one said all off, you dont need it anymore. Dealt with. Being and just the you know, i said this last week. I came from a state that is 88 white. These issues are a little different to me, but i have seen a native American Woman charged with obstruction because she was clearly intoxicated and not represented by counsel in her first interview, and shockingly, her second interview did not match up. I have seen a hispanic who speaks broken english not allowed an interpreter for a lawyer present, getting his plea deal revoked because his first interview was different than a second. Im guaranteeing you this both of those clients wish those interviews were at least audiorecorded, and none of them were in custody according to federal agents, so i yield back. Time, ieclaiming my would like to yield to the gentleman from texas. To follow up on mr. If youngs comment, truly believe 100 in your heart that there is no one who is racist, at all, in any federal Law Enforcement department, then it would be totally appropriate for you to vote against this amendment. Possibility is a that any federal, even one federal Law Enforcement officer anywhere is racist, then you want to vote for this amendment, and i do appreciate all the wonderful speeches everybody has made, but failed to address this good amendment. Thank you for the good speeches. This amendment is what we are talking about right now, and it wouldnt make a difference. It will make Law Enforcement better. People, even if they have any racist it will all be i applaud that amendment and im thinking about faithful throughout. I like to add my condolences to this thousands who passed away. People,re truly great this hearing is extremely important, as we all know. There are many things that we really could work out and i bet in a bipartisan manner, had we been consulted ahead of time. Im hoping that a number of the , we are going to be working with senator tim scott to get these actually into law if at all possible. Theres a lot of good things we can do in this area to reform the police, the vast majority of whom are professionals who worked extremely hard and put their lives at risk every day. Apparently, theres not a lot of bipartisanship. Weve got more time left in his committee, but we keep seeing shots across the bow from the other side. Id like to now yield to the gentleman from ohio, the Ranking Member. The gentleman from north dakota is exactly right. The individuals he referenced, the examples he gave, they sure do wish those interviews were recorded. And my guess is the example of mr. Jeffries, they probably wish those interactions were reported. Wishesnow general flynn his interview was recorded. Because we know what they did after that, they went and changed thetook the day it happened. By the way, those agents said after the interview that they didnt think he was lying. They thought he was being straightforward and honest, but they went ahead and changed it because the fbi was out to get him. Example that has been given, they probably want their interviews recorded. And i know general flynn would have his interview recorded. And yet, the majority is going to vote no. They are going to vote against. It makes absolutely no sense. They are going to vote against. I hope you have a change of heart, i hope this passes and you can get on with the other good amendments. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. The gentlelady is recognized. Mr. Chairman, we are here at another store moment, and while i have no doubt mr. Armstrongs desire to improve our legislation, i have to express my doubts about some of the republican colleagues. I feel like i need to remind folks about why we are here. As so many sat in , int of us just one day asked our colleagues to stop political games and focus on why we were present, and to focus on what is in the bill. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, they didnt. Most of the members of the Minority Party chose instead to focus on the defunding the police park, which is not in the bill. This is the beginning of hearing, the Ranking Member told us there would be thoughtful amendments option. I would like to remind everyone why we are here. In the face of horrific police racismty and systemic that and honest response, in the face of hundreds of thousands of americans marching through the justice, the First Amendment that we are debating is about the russia investigation . Our republican colleagues deprived when the American Public believes that they have yet to understand the move that were seeing in our country . This moment is a reckoning, and we either rise to the moment we dont. Its about time that we face the racism that has found its way into our situation, it is about time we call it out and take action. Until there is that recognition and that action against this corrosive and deadly role that racism plays, change wont happen. Lip service is meaningless, political games are an insult. Enough of time wasting. Commissions, task forces, incentives. I support this bill because black lives matter. I support this bill because it finally forces a reckoning for lives needlessly lost. Unfortunately, no community is exempt. In my own community, too many unarmed people have been killed by local Law Enforcement, many of them suffering from mental illness. Exempt, and is these tragedies will continue until react. I believe that the countless dedicated Law Enforcement professionals across the country are hungry for reform as we are. Reform protects good cops and it exposes bad cops. Reform keeps communities safe. Everyone in the community, whether they have a badge or not. Its time for justice. That cant happen until we have honest conversations. Again, i urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, it is not too late to think of the lives lost needlessly at the hands of brutality. Work with us toward justice. I want to yield the remainder of my time to my colleague. Thank you, congresswoman. I just want to correct the record because my city was again named, and i just wanted to convey that i spoke to my cheeks just now, about the portrayal of her comments by my colleague, and she has told me to convey, for the record, that her comments have been taken completely out of context, they were not another protest area at all, and i know my colleagues want to rely on fox news, but do not. I want to point out that reporting is completely false and constantly drunk. Reports like those that local Business Owners have been approached by armed people who demanded mob like protection payments have been completely debunked, directly by Business Owners who insist that local businesses are racking up muchneeded sales after being hardhit by the coronavirus. Fox news has admitted to photo shopping images and showing scenes of a burning city that were not even in seattle. It is offensive to keep bringing this up and a distraction from the real work on of us. This is my district and i welcome anyone who wants to see what is actually happening to come and visit me. I will happily take you around. In the meantime, lets stay on the real test ahead of us. Bringing about real, meaningful justice as the justice in policing act before us does. Not something that is a half measure, not something less than what is needed, but something that brings about justice for all of those who are demanding it for their families. Thank you, i yield back. The gentlelady yields back. The gentlelady is recognized. This committee has considered several pieces of this bill considerede have we the bull, broad reform that this bill encompasses. It is absolutely necessary that all of the measures in this bill are adopted, not a half measures being discussed in the senate. Heartbreaking to think of those murdered by police and heartbreaking to listen to our son brought the video to his attention. This cannot continue in america. Having said that, i do believe offered byendment mr. Armstrong has merit to it. We do know that this is a. Lem of i do have a concern, however, about the lack of notice in this provision, and i wanted to explain why im not able to support the amendment at this moment, but im with am hoping we can work mr. Armstrong to get clarity on that aspect of the amendment, because it would strengthen the jeffries hash mr. Voted it as not the core function of the bill. With that, i thank you for recognizing me, i will happily yield back. Chair nadler the gentlelady yields back. The question now occurs on the amendment by the gentleman from north dakota. All in favor say aye. Those not in favor say no. The ayes have it. The clerk will call the roll. Mr. Nadler votes no. Mr. X and live votes now. Lee votes no. Mr. Johnson of georgia votes no. Miss bass votes no. Mr. Richmond votes no. Mr. Jeffries votes no. Mr. Cicilline votes no. . R. Swalwell mr. Lou votes no. Mr. Raskin votes no. S votes no. Mr. Correa votes no. Scanlin votes no. Ms. Garcia votes no. Mr. Nikos votes no. Morelook forward to discussions and in this legislation. Mr. Stenson votes no. Ms. Dean votes no. Ms. Powell . The would like to discuss possibility of getting together on monday, but at this moment i vote no. Ms. I will votes no. Escobar votes no. Aye. Omert votes mr. Collins votes aye. Mr. Gates votes aye. Mr. Johnson mr. Johnson votes aye. Mr. Big votes aye. Lesco votes aye. Mr. Klein votes aye. Mr. Armstrong votes yes. I votes yes. [indiscernible] i also vote no. After we have discussed the biggest problem with Law Enforcement, the fact that the unredacted Mueller Report was never given to this i would like to speak my vote, as well. With that, i yield. Mr. Collins votes no. We did not hear from the standings ms. Demings. Demings votes no. Mr. Swallow votes no. Whor nadler has everyone voted . To vote emings, if you would turn on your video. I vote no. Chair nadler ms. Demings votes no. Clerk will report. Mr. Gomer, how did you vote . I voted yes. I would like to make a speech, like mr. Collinson. Mr. Collins did. Mr. Chairman, there are 13 ayes and 25 nos. Chair nadler the committee will now stand in recess for one hour. [indistinct conversations] announcer embers of the house Judiciary Committee, discussing amendments to the justice in policing act, legislation dealing with Police Reform in the wake of the death of george floyd, who died in police custody. They have been added for almost three hours now, there are going to take an hour break. When they come back, we will have live coverage right here on cspan and also following it on cspan. Org. During this break, we will show you the Opening Statements from this gathering, beginning with the committee chair, jerrold nadler