[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18965]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE POLICE TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW ACT

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the shocking video from 
Chicago showing the brutal shooting of Laquan McDonald by a Chicago 
police officer, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to pass H.R. 
2302, the Police Training and Independent Review Act.
  Congressman Lacy Clay and I introduced this bill earlier this year to 
stop local prosecutors from being tasked with investigating and 
prosecuting the same local police with whom they work so closely.
  This is an inherent conflict of interest. What happened in Chicago is 
just the latest evidence that it needs to end.
  If enacted, the Police Training and Independent Review Act would 
condition the receipt of full Byrne-JAG funding on States adopting laws 
to require independent investigation and, if necessary, prosecution of 
law enforcement officers in cases involving the use of deadly force.
  If we are serious about restoring a sense of fairness and justice, we 
need to pass this bill and remove this conflict.
  Law enforcement, police, and sheriffs have a tough job, a dangerous 
job, and they bring cases to DAs and serve as witnesses. This hand-in-
glove relationship shouldn't be upset, but it also shouldn't upset 
justice.
  We have seen charges brought against officers in certain cities, but 
more would be brought if there were independent prosecutions.

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