Formerly serving as a police officer for more than 20 years, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) continues to advocate for legislation on Capitol Hill that would authorize wide-ranging law enforcement reforms and this week led 60 Republican cosponsors in reintroducing the Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act of 2021.
“As the American people continue to grapple with an economic crisis and complex social issues, they are desperately calling for their leaders to work together and put forward commonsense solutions that will unify and move this nation forward,” said Rep. Stauber, who sponsored the bill. “The JUSTICE Act would do just that.”
If enacted, H.R. 677 would improve and reform policing practices, accountability and transparency, and would fund improved training for police officers, increase the number of police body cameras, and provide police departments with grants to implement community policing best practices.
Originally, Rep. Stauber in June 2020 introduced the same-named H.R. 7278 with 163 cosponsors during the 116th Congress, while U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) led his chamber’s version, S. 3985, which had 48 cosponsors. The legislation was blocked by House Democrats three times, according to Rep. Stauber’s office.
“While I am proud to reintroduce the JUSTICE Act, legislation that offers pragmatic solutions to enact change in police departments nationwide, I am disappointed this legislation was not passed last Congress,” said Rep. Stauber. “Instead, Democrats continuously blocked my efforts to bring it to the House floor, even though an overwhelming majority of the provisions included in the JUSTICE Act received bipartisan support in the past.
“I hope congressional Democrats finally abandon partisanship and help pass this critical piece of legislation,” he added.