Dean Phillips on Crime

Enhance public safety by funding for police departments

George Floyd Act: change the culture of law enforcement

1. Make Policing Safer: Ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, two practices that have been directly responsible for the tragic deaths of American citizens. In addition, the legislation would require that police officers use deadly force only as a last resort.
2. Change the Culture of Law Enforcement: Prohibit racial and religious profiling, fund new training programs, and create a national accreditation system for police departments.
3. Improve Transparency: Create a nationwide police misconduct registry to prevent problematic officers from quietly moving from one jurisdiction to another.
4. Improve Accountability: Hold police officers accountable for misconduct by ending "qualified immunity" for law enforcement.
5. Encourages Innovation: Grants for communities who wish to develop innovative approaches to public safety.

Prosecute and deport violent criminals

Stricter rules for law enforcement accountability.

This bill addresses policing practices and law enforcement accountability:

• lowers the criminal intent standard--from willful to knowing or reckless--to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution,
• limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer, and
• grants administrative subpoena power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pattern-or-practice investigations.

Rep. Elise Stefanik in OPPOSITION (3/1/21): I voted against H.R. 1280--this bill poses a grave danger to law-abiding police officers, as it would eliminate qualified immunity protections, lower the standard for federal civil rights lawsuits, and limit access to necessary equipment during emergencies and natural disasters. Democrats rushed this bill to the House Floor without accepting any input from Republicans, expert testimony, or significant data. I am proud to sponsor the JUSTICE Act with Senator Tim Scott, to provide necessary reforms to end police brutality while protecting our law-abiding officers.

OnTheIssues explanation of `qualified immunity`: `Qualified immunity` means that police officers (and other government officials) cannot be sued for actions on duty, unless knowingly taking unreasonable actions. This bill would limit `qualified immunity,` which means the family in cases like George Floyd`s could sue the police for civil damages.

Biden Administration in SUPPORT (3/1/21): We must begin by rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they are entrusted to serve and protect. We cannot rebuild that trust if we do not hold police officers accountable for abuses of power and tackle systemic misconduct--and systemic racism--in police departments.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 220-212-0 on March 3, 2021, rollcall #60; received in Senate on March 9; no further Senate action during 2021.