The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year has thrown into disarray many of the legislative priorities Congress was hoping to tackle by year’s end. Since March, Congress has shifted its attention almost entirely to mitigating the impact of the virus, passing a series of packages aimed at bolstering support to those directly dealing with the outbreak, and to aid individuals and businesses experiencing financial hardship. As state economies gradually reopen, Congress has continued negotiations on additional COVID-oriented relief bills. It has also resumed consideration of “must pass” legislative vehicles, such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) appropriations, and a surface transportation reauthorization bill. Other timely measures, such as police reform, have also received attention.
Read MoreThe coronavirus epidemic presented new challenges for law enforcement officers when community transmission sped up in mid-March. Tensions between police and communities of color that they patrol have risen since then and were elevated even before the death of George Floyd and the resulting civil unrest. These recent events, coupled with ongoing efforts to respond to the pandemic, have resulted in demand for policy reforms.
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