Skip to main content

Smucker: Bipartisanship Necessary in Police Reform Discussion

June 25, 2020

Smucker: Bipartisanship Necessary in Police Reform Discussion

WASHINGTON, DC —Today, Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) released the following statement after opposing H.R. 7120, which advanced through the House without bipartisan consideration of amendments:

"Having served as a township supervisor and state senator, I know that it is our municipalities and state governments which have the most direct control and oversight of our law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania. I was pleased to see the Pennsylvania General Assembly advance reform proposals earlier this week, including creating a statewide report of use-of-force incidents, publicly releasing use-of-force policies, and implementing new training requirements. I discussed many of the proposed changes with local law enforcement officials.

I was proud to cosponsor and vote for the JUSTICE Act in the House, led by former law enforcement office Rep. Stauber, which is the companion legislation introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tim Scott. This legislation would advance important reforms including ending the use of chokeholds, increasing the use of body cameras, and ensuring that bad cops who are fired for misconduct from one department cannot find another job as a law enforcement officer in a new city, county or state's law enforcement agency.

I was disappointed to see that Sen. Scott's legislation was blocked from consideration and am equally disappointed that every amendment offered by House Republicans to H.R. 7120 in committee was blocked from consideration.

I have concerns with H.R. 7120 which were unable to be addressed during its consideration in the House due to the fact that not a single amendment was allowed to be debated. While this conversation continues, we need bipartisanship to prevail in Washington and I am hopeful that police reforms may be considered in a conference committee," said Smucker.