[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S3277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE JUSTICE ACT

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, it was a sad day yesterday when we 
didn't get enough votes because the Democratic leader didn't want 
Democrats to vote. We did get four of those votes from that side of the 
aisle, but the police reform bill didn't come out.
  Senate Republicans are taking a step in advancing real change on this 
issue in our country. We have heard calls for police reform and are 
responding--not only because of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis a 
few weeks ago but also because of peaceful demonstrations around the 
country on this issue calling for police reform.
  Senator Scott is the leader of the JUSTICE Act. I am a cosponsor. It 
encourages States to stand as partners in addressing police reform. If 
State and local police departments don't comply with the provisions of 
the JUSTICE Act, such as training officers on deescalation and use-of-
force and ensuring consistent use of body-worn cameras, they will not 
receive Federal funding for police action.
  Iowa has made significant changes already, and a number of other 
States have followed Iowa's example. The Iowa Legislature unanimously 
passed police reform issues very much like what is in the Scott bill, 
and, working with leaders of color in Iowa to accomplish this goal, it 
went very smoothly through the Iowa Legislature. I got a firsthand 
report from my grandson, who is speaker of the Iowa House. The Iowa 
House is divided 53 to 47, but both houses of the Iowa Legislature 
passed these reforms unanimously.
  Why can't Senate Democrats let us go forward with the Scott bill? All 
we need are four more Democratic votes. If it can happen in the Iowa 
Legislature, it ought to be able to happen here.
  We have a role to play in the Senate, but let's not forget that, 
while we are doing that, we are also encouraging our State partners to 
also lead the charge in effecting real change. In fact, 50 State 
legislatures--every municipality--ought to be moving forward on police 
reforms of not only our type but whatever they may think is best for 
their States or municipalities.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________