House Democrats struck a deal on police reform Wednesday, uniting centrists and progressives in the chamber on a key issue ahead of the midterm elections.
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Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said the House will vote on a package of four bills on Thursday. The Senate does not appear poised to do so before the election.
The package resurrects a previous attempt to reach a deal on a series of pro-policing bills sought by centrist Democrats who balk at some progressives’ embrace of “defund the police” efforts.
Centrist Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) negotiated with progressive Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on a package that previously stalled over a lack of consensus. Congressional Black Caucus lawmakers also participated in the latest negotiations.
In a joint statement, Omar and Jayapal said, “With this package, House Democrats have the opportunity to model a holistic, inclusive approach to public safety, and keep our promise to families across the country to address this issue at the federal level.”
Gottheimer highlighted the consensus in a statement, saying, “I’m proud to have worked closely with Republicans, Democrats, and a broad spectrum of stakeholders to make real progress for public safety.”
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The package includes four bills that would fund local nonprofit organizations and other community groups that work to reduce crime, provide grants to smaller police departments for recruitment, and offer grants for mental health services. The deal also includes a bill by Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) that would issue grants to police departments geared at solving gun crimes.
Demings, a former chief of the Orlando Police Department, has rejected “defund the police” rhetoric and positions in her Senate campaign against incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
