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Pingree Votes for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to Enforce Mandatory Ban on Excessive Use of Force, Reporting of Police Misconduct

Historic Legislation Would End Unjust Qualified Immunity Doctrine Used by Law Enforcement

Washington, June 26, 2020

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted for passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would enforce national mandatory accountability standards to end police misconduct and address racial injustice in policing.

“After George Floyd’s murder by police was captured on video, millions of Americans called for law enforcement reforms to address unchecked racial profiling and excessive use of force toward Black Americans. We know the brutal treatment of Mr. Floyd by police is not an isolated incident. Despite being 1 percent of the population, data show Black Mainers are more likely than their white peers to experience both use of force by police and arrest, which is consistent with unjust racial disparities nationwide” said Pingree. “Although policing is a local issue, the Justice in Policing Act will ensure the nation has uniform and binding accountability standards for law enforcement. Justice should not depend on your skin color or where you live.”

Unlike President Trump’s executive order and the U.S. Senate’s proposed police reforms, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will enforce mandatory accountability measures including:

  • Banning chokeholds;
  • Stopping no-knock warrants;
  • Ending the qualified immunity doctrine that is a barrier to holding police officers accountable for wrongful conduct;
  • Combating racial profiling;
  • Mandating data collection, including body cameras and dashboard cameras;
  • Establishing new accreditation standards for policing; and
  • Limiting transfer of military equipment to state and local law enforcement.

On June 8th, amid nationwide protests of police brutality toward Black Americans, Pingree announced her original co-sponsorship of the bicameral Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the most significant federal police reform package in generations.

Last Friday, on Juneteenth, Pingree launched a new Racial Justice webpage detailing dozens of legislative initiatives she’s co-sponsoring to address police brutality toward Black people, enduring racial health disparities, environmental justice, voting rights, fair labor practices, and more.

 

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