Introduction of the Racial Profiling Prevention Act

Floor Speech

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, as we await a surface transportation bill, I rise to introduce a bill to reestablish a federal grant program for states that desire to develop racial profiling laws, collect and maintain data on traffic stops, design programs to reduce racial profiling, and train law enforcement officers, which I worked to get included in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA LU) in 2005. Despite the fact that the grant program was just a small piece of the very large SAFETEA LU bill, nearly half of the states participated in the program for multiple fiscal years. Racial profiling is a form of racial discrimination that is now back in the forefront of national concern because of the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin.

Racial profiling on roads built with federal funds is a violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, because it amounts to a government subsidy of discrimination. However, while it remains a widespread problem in our country, there is little experience in developing legislation in this sensitive area to address racial profiling while allowing for appropriate law enforcement. My bill would help states to better develop their racial profiling laws and to help law enforcement understand what role racial profiling plays in traffic stops.

My bill imposes no mandates on states. Instead, it simply authorizes a grant program, but does not require states to participate. However, it provides resources that many states and localities clearly need if they are to curb racial profiling.

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