By Cori Bush
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Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2024) — Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released the following statement ahead of House votes on harmful, performative messaging bills that undermine public safety.
“Michael Brown. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Tamir Rice. Theirs and so many other precious lives have been lost or permanently altered due to our country’s failed approach to public safety. Republicans want to double down on that failed approach. Throughout this Congress, they have focused on passing hollow messaging bills and fearmongering about immigrants, all while undermining public safety and propping up their twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former white-supremacist-in-chief, Donald Trump. They are doing all of this rather than actually governing and prioritizing the needs of our communities.
“The upcoming bills that the House will vote on during this National Police Week are no different. Resolutions that mislead the public about violent crime rates, legislation that increases the availability of deadly weapons in our communities, and bills that fuel xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiments do not make our communities safer–for our children, for our most vulnerable neighbors, for law enforcement, other first responders, or anyone else.
“The health and safety of every person in our community is a top priority for me. As a leader in the movement for community-led safety and as someone who has met with and responded directly to the needs of both community members and police chiefs across my district, I believe that public safety is a matter of public health. It’s why I lead the People’s Response Act, Helping Families Heal Act, and other initiatives that champion evidence-based public health efforts proven to prevent and reduce violence and keep communities safe. This means funding community health workers, non-carceral crisis response units, mental health professionals, violence interruption and prevention programs, and so much more. Investing in systems of care vastly improves the well-being of our communities. I will continue working alongside all key stakeholders in St. Louis and in Congress to build a society that prioritizes safety for all people and communities.”
As Congress’s first activist from the movement to save Black lives, Congresswoman Bush has been a fierce advocate for an affirmative, evidence-based approach to public safety.
- Congresswoman Bush, alongside Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Katie Porter (CA-47) joined the Community Safety Working Group, a coalition of 70+ organizations with an affirmative vision of public safety, for the launch of the Community Safety Agenda, which champions affirmative, evidence-based approaches to public safety such as the People’s Response Act.
- Congresswoman Bush, along with other Democrats, pushed for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation signed into law that closes the dating partner loophole & delivers a $250 million investment in community violence intervention programs.
- Congresswoman Bush introduced the People’s Response Act, legislation that adopts a new approach to public safety that understands that true public safety must be rooted in a public health response
- Congresswoman Bush introduced the Helping Families Heal Act – also known as the ‘Mike Brown Bill,’ alongside Mike Brown’s mother, Lezley McSpadden. This first-of-its-kind legislation would fund mental health resources to support those impacted by police violence.
- Congresswoman Bush, alongside Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), introduced the Drug Policy Reform Act (DPRA), a bill to end criminal penalties for drug possession at the federal level and to shift regulatory authority from the Justice Department to the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Congresswoman Bush introduced the End Solitary Confinement Act, legislation that would end solitary confinement in federal prison and detention facilities, establish minimum standards for incarceration and due process protections, and incentivize states and localities to end solitary in state and local facilities.
- Congresswoman Bush has consistently conducted oversight of the Department of Justice.
Congresswoman Cori Bush sits on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, serves as the Ranking Member of Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, and proudly represents St. Louis as a politivist in the halls of the United States Congress.
