Costa Statement on Vote to Transform Law Enforcement, Build Trust Between Police and Communities

(FRESNO) Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after his vote to pass H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, a bill that provides a comprehensive approach to change the culture of law enforcement and build trust between police and our communities:

"Decades of oppressive policies and systemic racial bias have hindered black and minority communities from being treated as equal members of society," said Costa. "We must improve the culture of policing. This bill provides meaningful and significant changes to heal the racial divide in this country. Today we are on the right side of history."

The Justice in Policing Act of 2021 takes key steps to achieve transformational, structural change to combat a pattern of violence by law enforcement by:

• Working to end religious and racial profiling;
• Saving lives by banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants;
• Limiting military equipment on America's streets and requires body cameras;
• Holding police accountable in court;
• Investigating police misconduct;
• Empowering communities to reimagine public safety in equitable and just way;
• Changing the culture of law enforcement with training to build integrity and trust;
• Improving transparency by collecting data on police misconduct and use-of-force;
• Stopping sexual assault in law enforcement custody.

A fact sheet on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act can be found here.
A section-by-section rundown of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act can be found here.

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