House GOP Leader says he supports banning the use of chokeholds by police officers

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that he supports banning the use of chokeholds by police officers as part of policing reform legislation.

"The idea that someone would have a chokehold when somebody is handcuffed – there should be severe consequences," he said during a press conference. 

House and Senate Democrats on Monday released the Justice in Policing Act, which includes banning chokeholds, creating a national registry to track police misconduct and preventing the transfer of military-style weapons to police departments. 

McCarthy, a California Republican, said he would like to work with the Congressional Black Caucus on policing reform, noting that he has worked with Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) on many issues.

"I have reached out to Karen. We have talked and I look forward to continuing those discussions," he said.

McCarthy told reporters that GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee are currently working with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) on a formal police reform proposal.

Scott released a draft of his bill, the Justice Act, this week that includes "reporting of uses of force that causes death or serious injury to the established FBI data collection" and increasing funding for body-worn cameras.