Murphy signs as original co-sponsor to historic police reform legislation

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, June 18, 2020, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act in the House of Representatives. Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) is an original co-sponsor of the legislation.

The JUSTICE Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 with support from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The legislation would utilize a limited government strategy to affect change in law enforcement by tying the federal government’s power of the purse to incentivize state and local law enforcement departments to adopt federal standards. The bill seeks to accomplish the following among other things:

• Eliminate the practice of chokeholds by law enforcement unless the officer’s life is in danger.

• Increase funding for body-worn cameras and de-escalation training, both of which have been proven to reduce violent encounters with suspected criminals.

• Foster transparency in police hiring decisions in an effort to root out bad cops.

• Require police jurisdictions to report incidences where officers use force or discharge their weapon to the FBI.

• Require law enforcement to report where and when no-knock warrants are used.

Murphy released the following statement in support of the legislation.

“Senator Scott’s bill is a prudent and measured response to the police reform needs in this country. We need to help our law enforcement community – not defund them. Rather than making rash and sweeping changes based on impulse as those in the so-called ‘Defund the Police’ movement have suggested, this legislation directly addresses areas where the data indicates we can make improvements, and also studies issues where we need more information,” said Murphy. 

“Gutting police departments is not a serious answer. It will lead to anarchy and lawlessness. Penalizing the overwhelming majority of police officers who do their job with honor is not a serious answer either. In my view, the JUSTICE Act strikes the balance between improving law enforcement practices and protecting the brave police officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities,” concluded Murphy.

A section-by-section analysis of the JUSTICE Act can be found here.