Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) cosponsored several police reform and accountability bills, including the Justice in Policing Act, following peaceful protests in the 39th District and across the country over the murder of George Floyd.
“Our country is at a crossroads again. Families and communities are grieving and angry over the senseless death of another unarmed Black American. I’ve been to the peaceful protests in the 39th District, received calls, emails, and messages from constituents, and talked to law enforcement and community leaders calling for action and change. We cannot let this moment pass us again without enacting real reform.
“Today, I’m supporting several pieces of legislation, including the Justice in Policing Act, to increase police accountability, improve training, and end racial profiling. These bills are just the first steps to eliminate police brutality and dismantle institutional racism. I know more must be done, but I do not support defunding or abolishing the police. Instead, we need to take a serious look at police practices and create greater accountability and transparency.
“I’ll continue to review legislation that can help build the trust between our law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect. However, lasting change that eradicates systemic racism will not be achieved by only reforming the police system. We must also reform our healthcare, housing, education, and other systems that have denied access, justice, and opportunity to the Black community and all communities of color. Our work is far from over.”
Rep. Gil Cisneros cosponsored the following bills:
- H.R. 7120—Justice in Policing Act: Addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. It includes measures to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, enhance transparency and data collection, and eliminate discriminatory policing practices. The bill does the following:
- Mandates the use of body and dashboard cameras;
- Bans chokeholds and carotid holds;
- Ends no-knock warrants;
- De-militarizes the police by limiting the transfer of military weaponry to police departments;
- Enacts steps to end racial and religious profiling;
- Establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry;
- Reforms qualified immunity;
- Improves the use of pattern and practice investigations on police misconduct;
- Creates law enforcement development and training programs to develop best practices.
- H.R. 2329—The Law Enforcement Immersive Training Act of 2019: Requires the U.S. Department of Justice to create an immersive, real-life, scenario-based training curriculum to address key issues raised by law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. These include improving community-police relations, officer safety and resilience, situational awareness, physical and emotional responses to stress, critical decision-making and problem-solving, de-escalation and use of force, and crisis intervention. This legislation is endorsed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
- H.R. 1714—Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act: Prevents the transfer of certain military weapons under the Pentagon’s excess property or “1033 program” that are not appropriate for local policing and requires precincts to certify that they can account for all military weapons and equipment under the program.
- H.R. 7100—George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2020: Provides incentives for local police departments to voluntarily adopt performance-based standards to minimize incidents of misconduct, improve operations, and enhance community accountability.
- H.R. 4408 —Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2019: Makes the use of a chokehold or impeding one’s ability to breathe a civil rights violation.
- H.R. 1636—The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act: Establishes a commission to study and make recommendations to address social problems affecting Black men and boys.
- H.Res. 988—Resolution Condemning Police Brutality: Resolution calling on Congress to condemn police brutality, racial profiling, and take urgent legislative action to save lives.
- H.R. 4339—End Racial Profiling Act: Designed to eliminate the well-documented problem of racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin profiling by:
- Providing a prohibition on racial profiling, enforceable by declaratory or injunctive relief;
- Mandating that training on racial profiling issues as part of Federal law enforcement training;
- Authorizing DOJ to provide grants for the development and implementation of best policing practices, such as early warning systems, technology integration, and other management protocols that discourage profiling.
This article was released by the Office of Congressman Gil Cisneros.