Dear friend,

I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy. 

Fannie Lou Hamer freely shared her anguish from living under the confines of the Jim Crow South when she said she was “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Now, many Americans are sick of seeing police brutality take lives and are tired of seeing justice delayed and denied for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many other Black men and women. 

I too, feel this hurt. Over the past weekend, I joined our community in marching for justice. As I walked in stride with Dontre Hamilton’s mother, Maria Hamilton, I was reminded of the losses that our city has experienced. I know that Milwaukee, like other cities, could benefit from policing reform. That’s why for years, I have used my voice and power as a federal lawmaker to work towards real change by championing expanding de-escalation training for police officers and increasing its use within our communities.

This week, the Congressional Black Caucus spearheaded the introduction of the Justice in Policing Act in response to the outcry in our communities, legislation that will be on the House floor in the coming weeks. This legislation includes bold police reform through several measures, including:

• Modifying the federal police misconduct statue to ensure police officers are held accountable when violent, excessive force is used.
• Reforming qualified immunity to allow individuals to recover damages when police officers violate their constitutional rights.
• Providing the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division subpoena power to conduct investigations.
• Requiring states to report instances to the Justice Department where a use of force is used.
• Creating a registry that tracks all police officers that includes termination records, discipline records, and misconduct complaints.
• Banning choke holds and no knock warrants.
• Reforming the Section 1033 program to end the transfer of military grade weapons and equipment to local police departments.
• Requiring federal uniformed police officers to wear body cameras and marked federal police vehicles to have dashboard cameras.
• Amending federal law to make lynching a federal crime.

The House Judiciary Committee will now hold hearings on the legislation leading up to committee consideration of the bill later this month. Find more information about the Justice in Policing Act here. 

I believe that this comprehensive legislation will bring our country closer towards creating more fairness, accountability, and transparency in policing. It’s a first step, but it’s a promising effort. 

I will continue carrying your voices to Congress. I hear each of your calls for justice in your letters, phone calls, and messages, and will keep working with my colleagues to bring forth change that makes our communities safer for everyone.

Your friend,

Gwen