(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted to pass H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.  This legislation implements reforms to create stronger systems of transparency and accountability in policing across the country.  Congresswoman Fletcher is a cosponsor of the legislation, which passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, 236-181. 

“The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will bring uniform, thoughtful, needed reforms that will rebuild trust and strengthen relationships between police and the communities that they protect and serve,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I was proud to cosponsor this bill and to vote for it.  I am glad to see it pass the House, as it reflects the partnership of people across country to address matters of injustice and bring common-sense reforms that will make all of us safer.” 

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020:

• Bans the use of chokeholds and carotid holds at the federal level;
• Bans no-knock warrants in federal drug cases;
• Creates law enforcement development programs to foster policing best practices;
• Incentivizes law enforcement to meet a gold standard in training, hiring and de-escalation strategies to address systemic biases;
• Establishes funding for state attorneys general to investigate excessive uses of force and police misconduct; 
• Requires the U.S. attorney general to create law enforcement accreditation standard recommendations based on President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century policing;
• Reforms qualified immunity so that individuals are not barred from recovering damages when police violate their constitutional rights;
• Grants subpoena power to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division, to conduct pattern and practice investigations; and
• Establishes a DOJ task force to coordinate the investigation, prosecution and enforcement efforts of federal, state and local governments in cases related to law enforcement misconduct.