Speak Up For Those Who Can No Longer Speak For Themselves

The Valentine’s Day Campaign for Police Accountability intends to spread a message of hope.  If the deaths of Tyre Nichols, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and Michael Brown have taught us anything, it is that we need a change to the laws that govern police authority. We are under a system that has ignored abuses of authority for far too long. Police are weaponized for war and treat innocent citizens as enemy combatants. According to the Washington Post , over 1100 people have been shot and killed by police over the last 12 months.  It is time for a change now.

SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT SUPPORTS HUMAN NEEDS

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Below is a list of police reform legislation that has been introduced to Congress. The Peace Economy Project supports legislation that will reign in unchecked law enforcement authority. This should not be considered an all-inclusive list.

H.R.284 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House (01/12/2021). Require USCP to Utilize Body-Worn Cameras Act. This bill requires each uniformed officer of the U.S. Capitol Police whose job duties include interacting with the general public to use a body-worn camera and ensure it is activated while on duty. This requirement does not apply to an officer serving on a personal protection detail. 01/12/2021 Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

HR.1163 – 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House 2/18/2021. Federal Police Camera and Accountability Act. This bill establishes requirements for federal law enforcement officers to wear body cameras and for federal law enforcement agencies to install video cameras in patrol cars. Referred to the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on 04/28/2021.

H.R.2429 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Passed House (06/15/2021). VA Police improvement and Accountability Act. This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish policies and procedures related to the accountability and staffing of its police force.

Specifically, the bill requires the VA to publish specified summaries, statistics, and contact information related to the activities of VA police officers from the previous five- year period. The VA must ensure that each of its police forces is able to provide VA employees and members of the public who contact the force with contact information to directly contact the police force regarding the arrest, ticketing, detainment, use of force, or other police matters pertaining to the individual.

The bill requires VA police officers to wear body cameras that record and store audio and video. Additionally, the VA’s guidance on the use of body cameras must be made publicly available.

Under the bill, the VA is required to track and analyze the following information regarding its police force:

arrests made and tickets issued;

prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating to such arrests;

the use of force and weapon discharges; and

complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions. The VA must ensure each incident of the use of force is promptly reported to the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and law enforcement functions. The Assistant Secretary must review and investigate each incident (including allegations) of the use of force by a VA police officer, including such situations where any person receives medical attention. The VA must develop a plan that establishes minimum standards for police staffing at its facilities.

H.R.2663 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House (04/19/2021). Protecting Children from Chemical Weapons Act. This bill prohibits federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from using chemical weapons on minors in the course of policing activities. The term chemical weapon includes pepper spray. Referred to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on 10/19/2021.

H.R.4011 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House 6/17/2021. Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act. This bill prohibits use of federal funds for law enforcement officers in schools. It also establishes a grant program to replace law enforcement officers with personnel and services that support mental health and trauma-informed services.

Referred to the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on 11/01/2022.

H.R.4189 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House (06/25/2021). Measuring What Matters Act. This bill establishes a working group—the U.S. Commission on Reforming Police Metrics—to study best practices for measuring public trust in police institutions and including such findings in police performance measurement. The working group must report on its findings and conclusions, including recommendations.

The bill requires the Department of Justice to establish a pilot program to award competitive grants for technical assistance and financial support to local police departments and sheriff departments that carry out the recommendations of the working group. Referred to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on 11/01/2022.

H.R.8043 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House (06/13/2022). Local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing Act of 2022. This bill allows grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to be used to establish task forces to promote effective partnerships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. Referred to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on 11/01/2022.

H.RES.235 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House (03/16/2021). This resolution declares that respect for human rights is foundational to U.S. bilateral and international engagement with Nigeria, and it condemns the violence by Nigerian security forces against peaceful protestors. Further, the resolution supports the demands of the movement for justice, accountability, and meaningful police and security-sector reform in Nigeria, and it calls on the Nigerian government to release everyone who has been wrongfully arrested for participating in or supporting this movement.

H.RES.356 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in House (04/28/2021)

This resolution condemns police brutality around the world. Referred to House Judiciary Sub-committee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on 10/19/2021.

S.162 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in Senate (02/02/2021). Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2021. This bill establishes within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a National Center on Antiracism and Health and a law enforcement violence prevention program.

Among other activities, the new center must declare racism a public health crisis, collect and analyze data, and administer research and grant programs to address racism and its impact on health and well-being.

Additionally, the bill specifically directs the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in coordination with the Department of Justice and other relevant stakeholders, to carry out the law enforcement violence prevention program by conducting research and supporting other activities pertaining to law enforcement violence and public health. 02/02/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension.

S.353 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in Senate (02/22/2021). End Police Use of Chokeholds Act of 2021. This bill creates a new condition of eligibility for funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.

Specifically, to be eligible for grant funds under the COPS program and JAG program, a state or locality must have in effect a law that prohibits law enforcement officers from using a chokehold or carotid hold. 02/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.2125 — 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022).

Introduced in Senate (06/17/2021). Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act. This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for law enforcement officers in schools. It also establishes a grant program to replace law enforcement officers in schools with personnel and services that support mental health and trauma-informed services.

Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds to hire, maintain, or train law enforcement officers in elementary or secondary schools. Further, it prohibits the use of public safety and community policing grants for law enforcement officers in schools.

Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to local educational agencies to (1) replace law enforcement officers in elementary and secondary schools with personnel and services that support mental health and trauma-informed services, and (2) reform school safety and disciplinary policies to reflect evidence-based practices that do not rely on the criminal justice system.

A recipient must use grants funds to hire or train specified staff. The bill prohibits the use of grant funds for (1) establishing or enforcing zero-tolerance school discipline policies, (2) purchasing or installing surveillance equipment (e.g., metal detectors), or (3) arming teachers or other school personnel. 06/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4513 – SMART COMMUNITY POLICING ACT.

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary on 07/13/2022. The purpose of this Act is to strength community policing programs to:

(1) de-escalate interactions with law enforcement officers to achieve better outcomes for non-violent individuals experiencing crisis or trauma relating to mental health issues, poverty, homelessness, and substance use disorders;

(2) build collaborative partnerships to connect individuals with mental health services and community resources; and

(3) produce better outcomes for communities and law enforcement officers by delivering the appropriate treatment and other support services to individuals in need.