Feingold Introduces the End Racial Profiling Act of 2001 Joined by Bipartisan Group of Members of Congress, Law Enforcement and the Civil Rights Community June 6, 2001 Washington, D.C. – Senator Russ Feingold and Representative John Conyers today introduced the End Racial Profiling Act of 2001 in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives respectively. As the main sponsor of this legislation in the Senate, Feingold has joined with Representative Conyers and others as a leader in the national effort to end racial profiling. Racial profiling is the practice of a law enforcement agent relying on race, ethnicity, or national origin in selecting which individuals to subject to routine investigatory activities. "President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft have said racial profiling is wrong and should end in America. Our bill reflects this new political reality: Both Republicans and Democrats can agree that racial profiling is wrong and should end," Feingold said. "It is now time to move beyond studying whether racial profiling exists. We know it exists. Now, Congress should take the right steps to end it and protect the civil rights of all Americans to walk or travel free of discrimination." This bipartisan legislation bans racial profiling and requires federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to take steps to eliminate the practice. The bill takes a "carrot and stick" approach. It authorizes the Attorney General to provide incentive grants to assist agencies with complying with this Act and conditions federal funds to state and local law enforcement agencies on their compliance with certain requirements: -Adopting policies prohibiting racial profiling -Implementing complaint procedures to respond to complaints of racial profiling effectively -Implementing disciplinary procedures for officers who engage in the practice -Collecting data on routine investigatory activities like traffic and pedestrian stops

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