Illinois Congressman In Support Of Ending Police Brutality

ILLINOIS — Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued a statement Monday in support of the Justice in Policing Act.

"I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the historic Justice in Policing Act, which will take important and overdue steps to achieve transformational, structural change in our criminal justice system and combat police brutality," he said.

The Justice in Policing Act is the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, end racial profiling, change the culture of law enforcement, empower the communities, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives.

The Justice in Policing Act would:

• Establish a national standard for the operation of police departments
• Mandate data collection on police encounters
• Reprogram existing funds to invest in transformative community-based policing programs
• Streamline federal law to prosecute excessive force and establish independent prosecutors for police investigations.

In March, Foster won the primary election against Rachel Ventura for a seat in the Illinois 11th District. His work focuses on improving the healthcare system, fighting for working families, and "standing up for science in the Trump era," according to his Twitter profile.

He said in his Monday statement that it is "time for Congress and the Senate to act."

"Over the past two weeks, Americans all across the country, including throughout the 11th District, have exercised their First Amendment right to call for immediate action to increase transparency in law enforcement, demilitarize local police departments, and hold abusive police officers accountable for their actions," he said. "I’m proud to stand with those calling for an end to racial injustice and systemic racial discrimination throughout society."