July 25, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 126 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ALLOWING BODY CAMERAS IN JOINT TASK FORCES ACT OF 
                                  2019

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, Representative Donald S. Beyer, Jr. 
and I introduce the Allowing Body Cameras in Joint Task Forces Act of 
2019. This bill would prohibit the federal government from refusing to 
work with local police departments that require their officers to wear 
body cameras. Our bill would apply to all federal agencies.
  Under current policy, though it appears to be unwritten, the 
Department of Justice has been refusing to participate in task forces 
with local police departments that have body camera requirements.
  The Justice Department has determined that 47 percent of police 
departments in the country have body cameras. It is beyond reason to 
prevent these numerous police agencies from participating in federal 
task forces if their officers wear body cameras. The federal government 
should be encouraging the use of officer body cameras instead of 
discouraging their use. This bill only applies to uniformed officers, 
which means federal officials could refuse to participate in task 
forces if body cameras are used during undercover operations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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