Bass seeks Senate vote on House-passed police reform bill

In the wake of nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd while in police custody, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) wants to get the Senate to vote on House-approved police reform legislation.

“We’re in a moment that I believe developed into a movement that started with police brutality…and has taken up bigger issues like systemic racism,” Bass said during a National Press Club Virtual Newsmaker event on Thursday, July 16.

Bass led the legislative process on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which culminated in House approval, 236-181, on June 25.

The Senate is not as far along on police reform. Bass called a measure from Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) that was blocked by Senate Democrats “a sincere effort,” but noted that formal negotiations over a bicameral reform bill haven’t begun.

The recorded killing of Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer was “so egregious” and so profoundly different from any other video seen before, Bass said, that it ignited a worldwide protest movement.

“We saw people of every race, of every nationality, every gender, out there from all 50 states. All 54 nations on the African continent came together and essentially leveled protests at the UN about racism in the United States,” Bass said.

The way events have unfolded remind her of the civil rights movement “where it took TV cameras going down South and taking pictures,” to lift the nation’s consciousness, Bass said.

The civil rights movement resulted in legislation and so have the protests over Floyd’s death.

Black, Hispanic, Asian Caucuses work together

The Congressional Black Caucus works “lock-step” with the Hispanic Caucus and the Asian-Pacific Islander Caucus because issues around policing and racism affect everyone, Bass said.

After Floyd’s killing, 70 percent of Americans polled recognized a deep problem that must be addressed, Bass said. Such unity led to the Floyd Act.

Part of the measure “uplifts the police” who have wanted national accreditation and national standards for decades, Bass said. “Your hairdresser must meet certain standards” and so should police.

Besides transparency and accountability, the legislation gives grants to communities “so we can reimagine policing.”  

The measure also calls for a national registry of police officers. No police chief would hire someone fired for instability and a propensity for violence, she said, citing the killing of Tamir Rice by a police officer.

A former physician assistant and medical school faculty member, Bass said the nation is paying the price for reneging on a promise to build community-based mental health services after abolishing mental institutions years ago.  She prefers the term “refunding” the police, not “defunding” them so that policing can be reimagined.

The Floyd Act isn’t the end of Bass’ reform efforts. She plans to introduce a bipartisan bill on criminal justice and women next week.

VP buzz surrounds Bass

Before her election to the House, Bass became the first Black woman to serve as head of a state legislature when she was elected speaker of the California Assembly. Today, she is the subject of national political speculation.

During the Newsmaker, Bass was asked about the buzz that she could become the running mate of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Pressed by Club Vice President Lisa Mathews, who hosted the Newsmaker, Bass pointed to other potential female Democratic candidates. She referred questions about being vetted to the Biden campaign and promised to do everything possible to help him get elected. 

“I believe that because of COVID-19, this election is a matter of life and death,” Bass said. “[President] Trump won’t use his power to order massive testing, massive tracing, massive treatment, but he will order people back to meat-packing plants” in a pandemic.

Matthews, U.S. video manager for the Associated Press, asked Bass what qualities Biden’s vice president would need to fit the moment. 

Biden requires a partner “who can help heal this nation,” Bass said. “We’ve all been traumatized. We need to heal on the international front too.”