WASHINGTON – Two years after the death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) offered his support for the public safety executive order signed by President Joe Biden today.

“For two years since George Floyd was murdered, Republicans have refused to allow debate and consideration of needed police reform and public safety measures. President Biden is taking the right steps to restore public trust in law enforcement. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers need to change how they interact with our communities through increased training and higher standards. Only by shifting their mentality from a combative warrior to a guardian or protector will police across this country regain trust and be widely welcomed as they work to keep communities safe.

“Today’s executive order takes important steps forward in terms of promoting accountability, raising standards, improving law enforcement systems and training, and enhancing data collection. The comprehensive measures create a new national database of police misconduct; require new standards that limit the use of force and require de-escalation techniques; mandate new standards for accreditation, including providing incentives grants to state and local law enforcement; implement a new annual anti-bias training requirement to avoid discriminatory profiling; and improve data collection and transparency.

“I am proud that many of the provisions in today’s executive order were contained in legislation I authored, including the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act (ERRPA) and Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act (LETIA). Congress still must act to expand and make permanent President Biden’s executive order with passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.”

###