FreedomWorks Statement in Response to Senate Democrats’ Decision to Block Advancement of Policing Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to all but two Senate Democrats voting against moving to consider the JUSTICE Act, Senate Republicans’ policing reform bill, Jason Pye, FreedomWorks Vice President of Legislative Affairs, commented:

“Let’s be clear. The JUSTICE Act does not do nearly enough in the way of reform and entirely avoids tougher issues such as qualified immunity and police militarization. However, this is simply no excuse to turn criminal justice reform into just another partisan issue, as Minority Leader Schumer has done. This is shameful. Even Speaker Pelosi has said that she hopes to see the chambers go to conference with their respective bills.

“We don’t wish to see either chamber’s bills become the final product of real and necessary legislation on the heels of tragedy in our nation, we do wish to see a final product. Members should work together to modify the existing bill and add positive reforms to it.

“Partisan actors throwing wrenches into the legislative process for political ends pushes us toward having no final product. That is an end result we cannot afford at a moment like this.”