U.S. Senators Propose Police Reforms
2020-06-18
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1Republican Party members of the United States Senate have proposed legislation to change police procedures and accountability.
2The proposal is called the "Justice Act."
3It is the broadest policing proposal from Republicans in years.
4It was announced on Wednesday, a day after President Donald Trump signed an order of police reforms in a ceremony at the White House.
5Both actions follow weeks of public protest over the death of George Floyd during an arrest by police on May 25th in Minnesota.
6Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on the unarmed black man's neck for almost nine minutes as Floyd called out repeatedly, "I can't breathe," and, later said, "I'm about to die."
7The Senate proposal includes expansion of the use-of-force database and restrictions on the use of chokeholds.
8It also would create groups to study law enforcement and race.
9Tim Scott of South Carolina led the Senate Republican team that developed the legislation.
10He said lawmakers will move quickly to enter the proposal for debate next week.
11Scott, who is black, spoke of his own experiences being stopped by police - including once this year.
12"We hear you," Scott said, speaking about families of those killed by police.
13He added that the Justice Act "speaks very clearly to the young person" and his concern "when he is stopped by law enforcement officers."
14Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Senate Democrats to support the Justice Act.
15He said the United States is not a racist country but, in his words, "the stain" of slavery and the Civil War remains.
16The leader of the Democratic minority in the senate, Chuck Schumer immediately criticized the legislation.
17He said that the bill would not do enough.
18And he said the measure provides less police accountability than the reform proposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives.
19The House Judiciary Committee is currently considering that proposal.
20The full House is expected to vote on it next week.
21The Republican legislation would strengthen rules that require police to gather use-of-force reports.
22It also would make lynching a federal hate crime, a move sought by Democratic Party lawmakers.
23The proposal calls for an end to the use of chokeholds but would not require states to ban them.
24I'm Caty Weaver.
1Republican Party members of the United States Senate have proposed legislation to change police procedures and accountability. 2The proposal is called the "Justice Act." It is the broadest policing proposal from Republicans in years. It was announced on Wednesday, a day after President Donald Trump signed an order of police reforms in a ceremony at the White House. 3Both actions follow weeks of public protest over the death of George Floyd during an arrest by police on May 25th in Minnesota. Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on the unarmed black man's neck for almost nine minutes as Floyd called out repeatedly, "I can't breathe," and, later said, "I'm about to die." 4The Senate proposal includes expansion of the use-of-force database and restrictions on the use of chokeholds. It also would create groups to study law enforcement and race. 5Tim Scott of South Carolina led the Senate Republican team that developed the legislation. He said lawmakers will move quickly to enter the proposal for debate next week. 6Scott, who is black, spoke of his own experiences being stopped by police - including once this year. 7"We hear you," Scott said, speaking about families of those killed by police. He added that the Justice Act "speaks very clearly to the young person" and his concern "when he is stopped by law enforcement officers." 8Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Senate Democrats to support the Justice Act. He said the United States is not a racist country but, in his words, "the stain" of slavery and the Civil War remains. 9The leader of the Democratic minority in the senate, Chuck Schumer immediately criticized the legislation. He said that the bill would not do enough. And he said the measure provides less police accountability than the reform proposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives. 10The House Judiciary Committee is currently considering that proposal. The full House is expected to vote on it next week. 11The Republican legislation would strengthen rules that require police to gather use-of-force reports. It also would make lynching a federal hate crime, a move sought by Democratic Party lawmakers. 12The proposal calls for an end to the use of chokeholds but would not require states to ban them. 13I'm Caty Weaver. 14The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 15_______________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17procedure -n. a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order : an established or accepted way of doing something 18accountability -n. an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions 19chokehold -n. a method of holding someone by putting pressure on the person's neck to make breathing difficult or impossible 20stain -n. something that causes people to have less respect for someone 21lynch -v. to kill (someone) illegally as punishment for a crime 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.