[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 100 (Monday, June 13, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE LOCAL TASK FORCES ON 21ST CENTURY POLICING ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2022

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Local Task Forces 
on 21st Century Policing Act, which would assist localities in carrying 
out the recommendations of the federal Task Force on 21st Century 
Policing and the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services, both of which have detailed the need to strengthen 
relations between local communities and local law enforcement. The bill 
would provide grants to local governments to create local task forces 
on 21st century policing to bring police, representatives of the 
community and public officials together to identify best policing 
practices for local police and other ways to strengthen relations 
between the community and police departments. No new funds are needed. 
Existing funds from the Department of Justice would support local 
governments establishing the task forces by listing these task forces 
as an acceptable use of Byrne Justice Assistance Grants. Given the 
continuing controversy surrounding police shootings of unarmed African 
American men, with no solutions in sight, this bill is timelier every 
day.
  The task forces, modeled after the federal Task Force on 21st Century 
Policing, would allow local communities to identify the best ways to 
create an effective partnership between local law enforcement and the 
communities they serve, while reducing crime, increasing trust and 
combating racial profiling. The task forces could create a partnership 
to implement practical policing practices acceptable to all concerned.
  The creation of task forces could be an important step toward easing 
the tensions between local law enforcement and many communities. In 
addition, the task forces could serve to engage local law enforcement 
and local stakeholders in a transparent public problem-solving process 
instead of the current situation that encourages parties to choose 
sides.
  I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

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