Dr. Bucshon Votes Against Partisan Police Reform

Press Release

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement today after voting against the Democrats' partisan police reform legislation, H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021:

"Criminal justice reform in the United States must focus on promoting transparency and accountability at all levels of law enforcement, while preserving the ability of the men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and get home safely. This is why I am a proud original cosponsor of the JUSTICE Act, which would make common-sense reforms such as providing additional funding to promote de-escalation training, increased body camera usage, and require law enforcement agencies to maintain and share disciplinary records of officers to be used for hiring considerations. All of these reforms will help prevent future tragedies like the death of George Floyd.

"However, rather than working towards these bipartisan goals, this partisan bill would make our police officers and communities less safe. The bill would effectively end qualified immunity, lower the criminal intent standard for prosecuting misconduct from "willfully" to "recklessly", place additional restrictions on the use of lethal force by Federal law enforcement officials, and more. These far-left, partisan changes are gifts to the trial-lawyers, and will not make Hoosiers safer or address the actual problems facing our communities. I encourage President Biden and Speaker Pelosi to end these partisan games, and get serious about passing real police reform legislation, like the JUSTICE Act."

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