Should Congress establish a commission to investigate racial bias in federal law enforcement agencies?

Civil Rights

Congressional Oversight of Unjust Policing Act (H.R. 276)

Awaiting Vote

Bill Summary

The Congressional Oversight of Unjust Policing Act, or the Coup Act, was introduced in response to the January 6 insurrection, where a mob stormed the United States Capitol building. The legislation seeks to investigate systemic bias within law enforcement organizations. To do this, the legislation will create a Commission on Unjust Policing. The proposed Commission would be composed of 19 individuals, appointed by congressional leadership, the president, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Congress, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Progressive Caucus. The commission will have a mandate to investigate the role that bias plays within the Capitol Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the US Secret Service and to suggest policy changes to address any systemic bias. Sponsor: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (Democrat, New York, District 16) View full bill text ➔

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Opponents say

• "We expected some additional violence maybe between some of the counterprotesters — that's one of the reasons we went to the all hands on deck, but nothing like what we saw. I've been in law enforcement for 30 years. I've never seen anything like that in my life. They must not have been watching the same video I was watching. I was watching officers fighting for their lives on Wednesday." Source: Steven Sund (Former Capitol Chief of Police)

• "No one expected the president to say, ‘Hey guys, let’s all go down to the Capitol and show them who’s boss. That is a completely different thing that no one’s ever planned or prepared for. How could you? We have the members and we have the leadership secured. Is it correct to start shooting people? I can’t imagine that I would be happier today if we found out we kept the crowd out but wound up shooting 40 people." Source: Jose Cervino (Former Capitol Police Officer)

Proponents say

• "How does it happen that a group of armed, violent insurrectionists are able to march into one of the most secure buildings on Earth and force members of Congress to hide under their desks? This is not entirely a story of incompetence on the part of law enforcement, and we have to ask: Did some of those charged with protecting us willingly lay down their posts? Was there a coordinated effort to take over the United States government with violence? Why wasn't there a coordinated effort from the beginning with other members of law enforcement?" Source: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (Democrat, New York, District 16)

• "I am very sad to say that I believe that there were people within the Capitol police and within the Capitol building that were part of helping these insurrectionists to have a very well-coordinated plan for when they were going to come, how they were going to come. It appears that way, both from what happened, how coordinated it was, how easy it was." Source: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, Washington, District 7)

• "A street alliance among right-wing paramilitary forces, law enforcement, and demagogic politicians has been a hallmark of fascism for a century, so the involvement of multiple law enforcement officers from across the country in waging the Jan. 6th insurrection against the Capitol and the Congress is a warning sign of danger for our democracy." Source: Rep. Jaskin (Democrat, Maryland, District 8)

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