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Senate Republicans are unveiling legislation on Wednesday to address a national outcry for reform of the country's law enforcement departments, with hopes of addressing police misconduct, dangerous practices and concerns of systemic racism. 

Led by Sen. Tim Scott, the chamber's lone black GOP member, has led the charge for 

 to install nearly a dozen, major new provisions to address policing concerns highlighted since the May 25 

Scott said early Wednesday that the legislation will come on the heels of President Donald Trump's 

and visit with families Tuesday struck personally with loss related to police brutality. Scott attended the order signing and family visit. 

"We're working through the executive order and the legislation to have more training around deescalation, to bring more light to the situation, so as to provide real solutions so fewer families are sitting in the White House talking about the lost loved ones," the South Carolina senator 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is expected to join Scott and other authors of the legislation to introduce the plan called the Justice Act later Wednesday morning. He said Tuesday he's considering fast-tracking the bill to the Senate floor in the coming days. 

Originally, the Senate was slated to take up the annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act. However, Republicans have faced increasing pressure to respond to demands for policing reform, as well as answer a 

 set to be marked up later Wednesday for a vote this month. 

An aide to Scott said Wednesday the Republican measure is up to 18 co-sponsors and counting.  

"Too many Americans have lost confidence in institutions created for the purpose of keeping our communities safe," reads an introductory note to the legislation obtained by NPR. "To rebuild that lost faith, the JUSTICE Act focuses on police reform, accountability and transparency."

The measure also includes several more bipartisan efforts, including the creation of the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. The commission, which would be charged with issuing wide-range reporting on conditions impacting young black men and boys, is also in the Democratic proposal. 

It also includes other Democratic provisions, such as the National Criminal Justice Commission Act to trigger a review of the criminal justice system, and making it unlawful for an officer to engage in sexual relations with an individual who is being detained or in custody.

Still, congressional Democrats have already called the GOP plan a "watered down" approach, arguing that any reform bill needs to address the issue of qualified immunity — the legal protection for police officers that forecloses victims' ability to sue. The Democrats' plan also goes a step further than Republicans by explicitly banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants. 

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Led by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Republicans are unveiling their legislative response to the national outcry for an overhaul of police practices, seeking to rebuild faith in the justice system. 

Republicans' police reform bill focuses on transparency and training

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