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Biden, Black Caucus Agree on Reforms 02/03 06:12
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of the Congressional Black Caucus left a meeting
Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with an
agreement on how to address the issue of policing in America after the recent
killing of Tyre Nichols.
"We have agreement on how we will continue to work forward both from a
legislative standpoint as well as executive and community-based solutions, but
the focus will always be on public safety," Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, the
chairman of the Black Caucus, told reporters later Thursday.
Also at the White House were Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Cory
Booker of New Jersey -- two of the three Black senators -- and Reps. Sheila
Jackson Lee of Texas, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Joe Neguse of Colorado.
The group of Black lawmakers did not disclose details about the agreement
made in the room but said there will be more information about the "legislative
package" in the days ahead.
"This is going to require all of us, including Republicans, to get across
the finish line," Horsford said.
Before the meeting began, Biden said his hope was that "this dark memory
spurs some action that we've all been fighting for."
At Nichols' funeral Wednesday in Memphis, Tennessee, Harris said the White
House would settle for nothing less than ambitious legislation to address
police brutality.
"We should not delay. And we will not be denied," Harris said. "It is
nonnegotiable."
Bipartisan efforts in Congress to reach an agreement on policing legislation
stalled more than a year ago, and Biden ended up signing an executive order
named for George Floyd, whose murder at the hands of Minneapolis police set off
nationwide protests nearly three years ago.
Even some political allies of Biden are frustrated with what they view as
his excess caution on the issue.
"I think the president is missing the opportunity to be a historic president
when it comes to the social issues that continue to plague our country," said
Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y. "That's what we need."
Bowman described Biden as "a champion of the status quo in many ways" and
said Biden needs to be "a champion of a new vision for America."
The solution, Bowman said, is not "thoughts and prayers, come to the State
of the Union after your kid gets killed," a reference to Nichols' mother and
stepfather being invited to attend next week's speech.
Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he was
in touch with the White House last Friday, when video of Nichols' beating
became public, about whether the situation could be a catalyst to "get things
moving again."
His organization, the nation's largest police union, had participated in
previous attempts to reach a bipartisan deal, and Pasco said "we welcome any
constructive effort to help us do our jobs better." The union's president,
Patrick Yoes, has condemned Nichols' killing and said that "our entire country
needs to see justice done -- swiftly and surely."
Pasco said "we're kind of in a wait-and-see mode right now," with
Republicans recently regaining control of the House, making legislative
progress much harder. "You've got to look at the political realities here," he
said.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Thursday signaled an openness to
discussing the issue.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican senator, said
resurrecting the previous Democratic bill is a "nonstarter." He has implored
Democrats to put aside "tribalism" in order to strike a deal.
"I've been working toward common ground solutions that actually have a shot
at passing," Scott said. "Solutions to increase funding and training to make
sure only the best wear the badge."
Biden has embraced calls for overhauling how police do their jobs while also
emphasizing his longtime support for law enforcement and rejecting proposals to
cut money. He was elected with strong support from Black voters and is now
preparing a reelection campaign for 2024.
Harris, a former prosecutor and the first person of color to serve as vice
president, has faced scrutiny for her approach to police issues.
Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, said he was encouraged
that Harris attended the funeral. "This is what people expect, that you'll be
there for them at a time of need," he said.
Now, Morial said, "we need a substantive response, not a political response
where they say, 'Let's just pass something.'"
Biden's executive order was the product of negotiations among civil rights
leaders and law enforcement organizations. It mostly focuses on federal
agencies by requiring them to review and revise policies on the use of force.
The administration is also encouraging local departments to participate in a
database to track police misconduct.
But steps such as making it easier to sue officers for misconduct
allegations have remained elusive. And the White House made it clear Thursday
that no executive action taken by the president can substitute for federal
legislation.
"We haven't gotten even a fraction of the changes that are necessary," said
Rashad Robinson, president of the activist group Color of Change. "We haven't
gotten the kind of structural change to policing that is required."
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