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Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted for the bipartisan George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, historic and sweeping legislation to reform policing in America, that passed the House of Representatives this evening.

"Americans -- led mostly by young people -- in all 50 states and every part of my district have taken to the streets to demand change,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is an answer to their once-in-a-generation call to action. This bill would bring real oversight, accountability, and transparency to excessive and discriminatory policing practices that have disproportionately affected Black Americans. I know that our work doesn’t end here -- I’m hopeful that the energy behind this historic moment will sustain itself as a lasting movement for racial justice in all aspects of our society."

As demonstrations against excessive policing practices and racial injustice continue in Virginia and across the country following the horrific murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, this legislation would implement real changes in policing at the federal level.

Specifically, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would:

• Establish a national database of police misconduct;
• Mandate data collection on police use of force;
• Ban the use of chokeholds;
• Ban no-knock warrants in drug cases;
• Prohibit law enforcement from racial and other discriminatory profiling;
• Implement a national standard for law enforcement accreditation;
• Reprogram existing funds to reinvest in community policing;
• Limit the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local police;
• Mandate body and dashboard cameras for federal police;
• Create a training program to cover racial bias, implicit bias, procedural justice, and the duty to intervene; and
• Reform the qualified immunity doctrine that is a barrier to holding police accountable for misconduct.

Congresswoman Wexton has joined several peaceful protests across Virginia’s 10th District, held a roundtable with local NAACP presidents, hosted a virtual community conversation on racial injustice earlier this month, and has met with local law enforcement leadership from every part of her district. 

Prior to holding elected office, Wexton served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County, a court-appointed attorney and a special justice in mental health commitment hearings, and a Substitute Judge in Loudoun’s district courts.

The full text of the bill can be found here. A summary of the bill can be found here.

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