[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3039-S3040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Justice in Policing Act

  Mr. President, I also looked at the policing bill that Senator Scott 
announced today and Leader McConnell will proceed to next week. I am 
still reviewing the text. From the descriptions I have heard, the bill 
may be well-intentioned but falls far short on the reforms we need. It 
fails to meet this moment. That doesn't mean we can't come together and 
make it meet this moment.
  We need more than a Rose Garden signing of an Executive order that 
has no authority and does nothing except look good. Millions of 
Americans in both parties are demanding real change. This moment 
doesn't call for a handful of studies and some grant programs; it calls 
for fundamental reforms to ensure our accountability and restore our 
trust. It requires a thoughtful debate, a real debate in which we have 
a real amendment process. Let Senators stand up and vote yes or no on 
amendments. Let the American people know where they stand. Let them 
take a position.
  If our Republican leadership won't commit to such a real debate and 
such real votes or amendments--a real amendment process--they fail the 
American people at a critical time; they fail them in favor of partisan 
politics.
  Each one of us has to cast votes on this floor. Some are very routine 
and easy to do, but so many are monumental. We have to speak to our 
conscience. We have to speak to our background. We have to speak to who 
we are. I will look at my background as a former prosecutor. I will 
look at my

[[Page S3040]]

background as one who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary 
Committee. I will look at my background as one who has listened to 
Republicans and Democrats alike in my State, but then I will call upon 
my conscience to vote for what is best.
  Don't fail the American people by having something that feels good, 
that says nice things but doesn't make any change. If there were ever a 
time America needs changes--we have two crises. One, of course, is 
COVID-19, and we are not addressing that. The other is, once again, 
every American, of all races, has to look at racism in policing. We are 
better than that. Most of our police departments want to be better than 
that.
  Let us stand up. Let the U.S. Senate be the conscience of the Nation. 
Again, I note we have been in the past. Wouldn't it be nice to be so in 
the present?
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  (Mrs. LOEFFLER assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Perdue). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.