Cornyn To Help Lead Police Reforms As Part Of Senate’s Working Group

“Today, after two weeks of grieving, the Floyd family will finally lay their beloved brother, father, and friend to rest in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Over the past two weeks, I have joined the chorus of voices calling for justice for Mr. Floyd.

The first step is underway now that the officers have been charged, but this alone is not enough. Our country has the responsibility to do the best we can to prevent another family member from another family from burying their son or daughter as a result of excessive force by a police officer.

I want to assure the people of Texas that these conversations are happening here in the United States Senate as well.

Our friend and colleague, Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, briefed the Republican Conference today on the package of bills he’s developing with help from a group of our members to combat the racial injustice that still exists in our country today, particularly, as it applies to law enforcement.

This is a product of discussions that Leader McConnell, and I, and others have had that would make real and lasting changes in communities across our country. I’m proud to be part of the discussion led by Senator Scott, and I want to commend both him and the Majority Leader for their leadership and sense of urgency— one that we all feel.

Despite calls from some to defund or even disband the police, I believe these steps would do far more harm than good. It’s not the right answer. Instead, we need to do a top-to-bottom review of our criminal justice system— something that has not happened in more than 50 years.

Senators Peters, and Graham, and I have introduced a bill to create a National Criminal Justice Commission that would do just that. Over the course of eighteen months, the Commission would examine our criminal justice system and provide recommendations on specific changes that should be made by Congress.

I’ve recommended this bill be included in the legislation Senator Scott is developing, and I’m eager to work with him and all our colleagues in the coming days in the hope of gaining broad bipartisan support.”U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)