[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE RACIAL PROFILING PREVENTION ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2012

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, as we await a surface transportation bill, I 
rise to introduce a bill to reestablish a federal grant program for 
states that desire to develop racial profiling laws, collect and 
maintain data on traffic stops, design programs to reduce racial 
profiling, and train law enforcement officers, which I worked to get 
included in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA LU) in 2005. Despite the fact 
that the grant program was just a small piece of the very large SAFETEA 
LU bill, nearly half of the states participated in the program for 
multiple fiscal years. Racial profiling is a form of racial 
discrimination that is now back in the forefront of national concern 
because of the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin.
  Racial profiling on roads built with federal funds is a violation of 
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, because it amounts to a 
government subsidy of discrimination. However, while it remains a 
widespread problem in our country, there is little experience in 
developing legislation in this sensitive area to address racial 
profiling while allowing for appropriate law enforcement. My bill would 
help states to better develop their racial profiling laws and to help 
law enforcement understand what role racial profiling plays in traffic 
stops.
  My bill imposes no mandates on states. Instead, it simply authorizes 
a grant program, but does not require states to participate. However, 
it provides resources that many states and localities clearly need if 
they are to curb racial profiling.

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