RELEASE: KHANNA, PADILLA INTRODUCE LANDMARK POLICE REFORM BILL TO PREVENT THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined forces to introduce the PEACE Act to change the federal standard for the use of force by federal officers to require that force be used only when necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury. The PEACE Act was passed by the House in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act last Congress. This is the first time the bill has been introduced in the Senate.

Click here for the full House bill text and here for an article in TheGrio on the bill.

The groundbreaking use of force reform legislation would also incentivize states who wish to receiving additional public safety funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to enact similar legislation to require a comparable standard for local police officers. The federal effort builds on California's historic legislation (AB 392, "Act to Save Lives") enshrining the "necessity" standard.

"The use of force should always be a last resort. This bill is about preventing the deadly escalation of force to save innocent lives and protect police officer's lives as well. Everyone is safer when we prioritize communication and de-escalation," said Rep. Khanna. "I'm proud to be introducing a historic police reform bill with Senator Padilla. This is a change that is long overdue."

"We must ensure that law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line every day to ensure our safety, have clear guidelines on the use of deadly force. Unfortunately, we've seen over and over again the tragic consequences, particularly in communities of color, when we don't. The PEACE Act will work to raise the standard on use of deadly force to save lives and hold the federal law enforcement officers who serve our communities to the high standard that Americans deserve," said Senator Padilla.

Raising the federal standard for the use of force and incentivizing states to do so through federal funding mechanisms was the first recommendation in a letter to House Leadership signed by 450+ organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Amnesty International USA, the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups around the country.

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