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[Pages H3623-H3624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LAUNCHING JUSTICE IN POLICING WEBSITE
(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, it has been nearly 4 weeks since the House
passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Leader McConnell and
the Republican-led Senate, however, refuse to call it up for
consideration or a vote. Meanwhile, the problem of racial injustice is
not going away on its own.
For millions of Americans, this issue is deeply personal, having
experienced racial bias in our justice system firsthand. Most police
officers, Madam Speaker, are trying hard to do their job
[[Page H3624]]
professionally and serve their communities well, and there are so many
exemplary officers committed to addressing head-on the inherent bias
and the problems in the culture of policing that lead some to commit
acts of misconduct.
Still, millions of people live in fear simply because of the color of
their skin and because of the history of police misconduct against
African Americans in our country.
Madam Speaker, we must never accept this norm. Indeed, in his last
public appearance, John Lewis visited Black Lives Matter Plaza in
Washington and then encouraged Americans to stand up for social
justice. He said this: ``We must continue to be bold, brave,
courageous, push and pull till we redeem the soul of America and move
closer to a community at peace with itself.''
His wise words continue to inspire Americans to be courageous in
standing up, speaking out, and working to lift our country up to the
highest of our ideals.
In order to make sure that all voices are being heard in Congress and
in this national discourse, I launched a website to make it easier for
Americans to share their own stories, learn about the legislation we
passed, and share their thoughts on our bill. It is a platform for
people to contribute to this work of redeeming the soul of America, as
John Lewis urged us to do. That site is JusticeinPolicing.us.
Already, Madam Speaker, thousands of Americans from nearly every
State have visited the site, and many have shared their own wrenching
stories about why we need to pass this bill.
One woman in my district wrote about how, as the mother of 2 young
Black men, she worries every day about them encountering the police.
That should not be the case in America. That isn't good for families.
It isn't good for the police. It isn't good for our communities. And as
I said, it is not good for our country.
Another wrote about how her elderly parents were pulled over in
Oklahoma because the officer couldn't believe that her African-American
father was married to her White mother. Both were in their eighties.
That was just 3 years ago.
One person from Iowa posted about being a lifelong Republican who is
tired of her party's failure to tackle police misconduct and systemic
racism in our country. That person is right. And it is not Republicans
alone whom I am sure she is concerned with.
The Senate could act today on the George Floyd Justice in Policing
Act. The Senate ought to act today. But it is sitting on Leader
McConnell's desk or someplace else gathering dust while our site
continues to gather stories of real lives impacted by these injustices.
Madam Speaker, I hope Americans will continue to speak out and give
compelling and concrete examples of why action is necessary.
And I might say, we need to speak out on the extraordinarily good
actions that are taken by our law enforcement officers as well. We need
to be balanced. But we do not need to be balanced to the extent of
ignoring the carnage that has occurred because of the color of skin.
These stories need to be told.
In his very powerful New York Times column last month on the five
crises facing America at this moment in our history, the
extraordinarily insightful David Brooks wrote: ``All Americans, but
especially White Americans, are undergoing a rapid education on the
burdens African Americans carry every day. This education,'' he said,
``is continuing, but already, public opinion is shifting with
astonishing speed.'' It is right that it does so.
The more we hear of the stories of personal experiences with systemic
bias, the better equipped we will be as a Nation to confront this
challenge together. As more people visit JusticeinPolicing.us to speak
up and support this bill, I will be sharing their names and stories
with this House and its Members, making sure that Members hear from
their constituents on this issue.
We are the people's House. We are the people's voice. We are the
protectors of democracy, yes, of our Constitution and our laws, but the
soul and character of our country are in our hands as well.
As long as people of color continue to face dangerous and deadly
systemic bias in our country, we will not stop pushing for the reforms
that are so sorely needed.
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