Rodney Floyd and Philonise Floyd, brothers of George Floyd, and Brandon Williams, nephew of George Floyd, check in at a security entrance at the Hennepin County Government Center on April 9, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images
President Joe Biden will receive George Floyd’s family at the White House on Tuesday, a government official told CNBC.
The visit marks the one year anniversary of the death of Floyd, which sparked international protests against police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes.
Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in April. His sentencing date is set for June.
The Floyd family’s visit to the White House comes as lawmakers attempt to create bipartisan police reform legislation that could go through both houses of Congress.
The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in March. The Police Reform Act aims to ban chokeholds, carotid holds and no-knock warrants, as well as to end qualified immunity.
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However, the legislature is struggling to find a compromise that can find sufficient support in the equally divided Senate.
Congress is expected to miss the president’s deadline to pass legislation by the anniversary of Floyd’s death. Due to the chamber’s filibuster rule, a minimum of 10 Senate Republicans are required for the bill to pass.
“It would help restore confidence in the communities,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday regarding the possible passage of the law. “Of course, more needs to be done. That is not the only step – far from it.”
A point of contention in the negotiations was qualified immunity, which makes it difficult to sue individual officials.
Ten House Democrats urge Congress leaders not to abolish the provision to end qualified immunity. However, some GOP senators fear that ending the trial would expose officials and departments to a wide variety of legal proceedings.
