(Washington, D.C., Thursday, May 20, 2021) – A majority of American voters believe that the need for police reform is even more urgent in the wake of former police officer Derek Chauvin’s conviction for the murder of George Floyd.

In early March, the House took a good first step towards police reform by passing the Justice in Policing Act (H.R. 1280). This bold, transformative legislation will assist law enforcement in demilitarizing policing, changing the culture of policing, raising the standards of the profession, and holding officers accountable. Yet, the bill’s fate in the Senate is uncertain.

It is very important for the Senate to now pass the specific, meaningful reforms included in the Justice in Policing Act. We also urge members of the House to explore other legislative mechanisms to ensure that the provisions of the Justice in Policing Act become law in the first half of 2021.

The key provisions of the bill would:

• Ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants. Condition law enforcement funding for state and local governments on banning both chokeholds and no-knock warrants;
• Limit the transfer of military-grade equipment (1033 Program) to state and local law enforcementl
• Raise the use of force standard to prevent police officers from using lethal force unless all non-lethal methods have been exhausted. Require the use of de-escalation techniques; and
• Reform qualified immunity, a legal provision which shieldslaw enforcementfromcertain

The Friends Committee on National Legislation is a national, nonpartisan Quaker organization that lobbies Congress and the administration to advance peace, justice, and environmental stewardship.

Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL fields an expert team of lobbyists on Capitol Hill and works with a grassroots network of tens of thousands of people across the country to advance policies and priorities established by our governing General Committee.