June 13, 2020
Dear Friends,
Weeks of protests across our nation have laid bare the systemic ways that racism and injustice have been woven into the fabric of our nation. These systems have been building since the first Black individuals were brought in chains to America’s shores more than 400 years ago. The long insidious shadows of slavery and segregation continue to shape the structure of our most fundamental institutions to this day. And that includes how we enforce our laws.
The brutal visibility of George Floyd’s murder forced us to confront this shameful reality and demands that we work—at long last—to undo the devastation caused by deep-rooted racism. We take courage knowing his death has sparked a movement, a social wave that can at last propel us to fulfill the promises of equality and justice we have long believed are the birthright of every American. Millions around the country and world are confronting this terrible history and calling on leaders to deliver change.
On Monday, Congress responded to that call. In an effort led by the Congressional Black Caucus, I joined with more than 200 other Congressional Democrats to introduce H.R. 7120, the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. This historic bill takes crucial steps to achieve transformational, structural change that will help end police brutality in America. The Justice in Policing Act includes:
- Reforms to curb police brutality, end racial profiling, and eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement
- Enables federal government to more easily prosecute police misconduct cases, ends racial and religious profiling and eliminates qualified immunity for law enforcement
- Bans the use of chokeholds
- Bans no-knock warrants
- Measures to transform the culture of policing to address systemic racism and help save lives
- Invests in communities by empowering community-based programs to change the culture of law enforcement and reimagine public safety
- Establishes public safety innovation grants for community-based organizations
- Increases to police accountability and transparency
- Establishes the first-ever national database of civilian police encounters, including use of force and traffic stops; requires the collection, analysis and release of such data
- Requires the collection of data on police-misconduct
- Helps take weapons and equipment manufactured for the battlefield off of our streets
- For the first time, federal law would require the use of body and dashboard cameras
A single piece of legislation will not fix four centuries of racism, violence, and economic oppression. It will not erase the crimes and inequities of our past. Much more will need to be done to remedy longstanding wealth and health disparities and secure equal access to our fundamental rights, most notably our right to vote. But, as we face these entrenched injustices and work to deliver change together, we position ourselves to take difficult but necessary steps forward. We are at a turning point in our nation’s history. Let us draw strength of national character from this moment of pain. We do that by enacting comprehensive, lasting reform build on a foundation of true social and racial justice.
In his deeply moving testimony during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on police brutality and racial profiling, George Floyd’s brother Philonise said this:
“George’s calls for help were ignored. Please listen to the call I’m making to you now, to the calls of our family, and to the calls ringing out in the streets across the world. People of all backgrounds, genders and race have come together to demand change. Honor them, honor George.”
We have the opportunity to listen right now, and to hear this call for justice anew. Let us take action now and move our country forward to become a more perfect union. We have seen similar action in our Capital Region, with thousands turning out for historic demonstrations in Troy and many others across our region last Sunday. Those thousands of local residents rallied together in a peaceful call to action, standing as a beacon of resounding solidarity and hope for all in our Capital Region communities.
I thank all those who continue to raise your voices and engage in the hard work to carry our nation towards a better future. When we speak up and have these difficult but needed conversations about our past, we can—and we do—make history.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind, here are a few recent developments that may be of interest to you:
- The IRS has released some information about tax returns operations during COVID-19, specifically in regard to paper tax return processing.
- Paper Tax Returns: All taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider or IRS Free File if possible.
- IRS Free File link
- The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your Economic Impact Payment. Paper returns will be processed once processing centers are able to reopen.
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