Congressman Panetta Supports Passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

SALINAS, CA – On Thursday, June 25 Congressman Panetta (D-CA-20) released the following statement in response to the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, H.R. 7120, which passed the House by 236 to 181.  This bill would better hold law enforcement officials accountable for misconduct, bolsters transparency through data collection and accuracy on wrongdoings and negligent use-of-force, and improves police training and policies.


“Passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is the first major action on police accountability and reform in decades.  The legislation will improve accountability, focus on training with new federal use of force standards, combat racial profiling, and create national databases for better informed decisions about policing in America.  I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of this bill and provided my insight as a former prosecutor and current representative of the Central Coast, said Congressman Panetta.  “As our Nation calls for change, the House of Representatives continues to act and deliver transformative legislation to reform policing policies in America.  This bill will help improve law enforcement so that it is supportive and sustainable for all communities.”



Law Enforcement Accountability

Amends standards for the criminal prosecution of police misconduct, from “willfulness” to “recklessness.”
Reforms qualified immunity so individuals may recover damages for law enforcement violations of their constitutional rights.
Improves federal pattern and practice investigations and incentivizes state attorneys general to conduct pattern and practice investigations.
Creates a National Police Misconduct Registry to prevent problem-officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability.
Mandates state and local law enforcement agencies report use of force data, disaggregated by race, sex, disability, religion, age.


Improved Police Training and Practices

Combats racial and religious profiling.
Mandates training on racial bias and the duty to intervene.
Bans no-knock warrants in drug cases.
Bans chokeholds and carotid holds.
Amends use of force standards, from “reasonable” to “necessary.”
Limits the transfer of military equipment to state and local law enforcement.
Requires police body cameras.