[ti:U.S. Senators Propose Police Reforms]
[al:As It Is]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2020-06-18]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]Republican Party members of the United States Senate have proposed legislation to change police procedures and accountability.
[00:13.01]The proposal is called the "Justice Act."
[00:17.14]It is the broadest policing proposal from Republicans in years. 
[00:23.53]It was announced on Wednesday, a day after President Donald Trump signed an order of police reforms in a ceremony at the White House.
[00:34.74]Both actions follow weeks of public protest over the death of George Floyd during an arrest by police on May 25th in Minnesota.
[00:49.52]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."
[01:05.90]The Senate proposal includes expansion of the use-of-force database and restrictions on the use of chokeholds. 
[01:17.25]It also would create groups to study law enforcement and race.
[01:24.08]Tim Scott of South Carolina led the Senate Republican team that developed the legislation.
[01:32.55]He said lawmakers will move quickly to enter the proposal for debate next week.
[01:40.67]Scott, who is black, spoke of his own experiences being stopped by police - including once this year.
[01:50.46]"We hear you," Scott said, speaking about families of those killed by police. 
[01:57.98]He added that the Justice Act "speaks very clearly to the young person" and his concern "when he is stopped by law enforcement officers."
[02:11.10]Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Senate Democrats to support the Justice Act. 
[02:19.48]He said the United States is not a racist country but, in his words, "the stain" of slavery and the Civil War remains.
[02:32.33]The leader of the Democratic minority in the senate, Chuck Schumer immediately criticized the legislation.
[02:40.72]He said that the bill would not do enough.
[02:46.02]And he said the measure provides less police accountability than the reform proposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives.
[02:56.81]The House Judiciary Committee is currently considering that proposal. 
[03:02.68]The full House is expected to vote on it next week.
[03:08.38]The Republican legislation would strengthen rules that require police to gather use-of-force reports. 
[03:16.50]It also would make lynching a federal hate crime, a move sought by Democratic Party lawmakers.
[03:26.19]The proposal calls for an end to the use of chokeholds but would not require states to ban them.
[03:35.97]I'm Caty Weaver.
