Washington Democrats back bill to curtail police use of excessive force
The Democrats in Washington's congressional delegation are lining up behind a sweeping bill aimed at curtailing excessive use of force by police and establishing a national data base to track and prosecute misconduct.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced the legislation Monday with strong Congressional Black Caucus support. Republicans have not yet been heard along Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, a Black senator who is promising his own proposals later this week.
"All throughout our region and across this country, people are demanding change to end police brutality and ensue accountability and justice: While there is no single policy that will erase decades of systematic racism and to reform policing, this legislation is a good first step toward driving real change," said Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., a cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act.
In a Senate floor speech, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., another cosponsor, said:
"It is time that we not just speak out about injustice ; it's time that we pass new federal laws to protect the civil liberties of United States citizens and protect them from these injustices."
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