The publication is reproduced in full below:
BACK THE BLUE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 4, 2021, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to show an army of congressional leaders who back the blue. I rise to show our colleagues on the other side of the aisle and Americans across the country that we won't back down when it comes to supporting our men and women in uniform.
Since my time in Congress began just over 1 year ago, I have made it my mission to show not just in words but also in action that our LEOs across the country have a thin blue line army that won't back down, that won't quit, and that will always have their six.
Today, we rise to honor the heroes in our midst, the everyday public servants who get up daily to don the badge, run into harm's way, moving towards danger and working hard to keep us all safe.
Amid efforts to defund our police, leading to a rise in crime with no response from elected officials nationwide or from this administration; amid phony bail reform efforts that do nothing to keep dangerous criminals behind bars; amid an opioid crisis with record levels of drugs pouring into our communities, perpetuated by the crisis at our southern border--because we all know that you cannot defend your hometowns if you cannot protect the homeland--amid dangerous rhetoric spread by the ill-informed; amid increasing levels of vitriol for this profession, these real heroes, well, they show up.
{time} 2100
Madam Speaker, I stood on this floor in March of last year as my Democrat colleagues passed a bill to defund police. They defunded police. Now, that night, I challenged my colleagues across the aisle to a ride-along. Not a single one--not one--took me up on my offer.
Instead, my team and I set out to do the ride-alongs that my colleagues would not. And wow, did we learn a lot. Whether it was domestic violence, robbery, battery, violent brawls, drunk drivers, drug busts--everything in between--these ride-alongs proved it. These men and women who wear the badge, they are amazing. They are imperfect beings doing the toughest of jobs with the best of intentions. They are criticized, demonized, and vilified, and yet, they continue to answer the call in the face of it all.
Madam Speaker, 2021 was the deadliest year on record for members of the law enforcement community--the deadliest. Next to me, you see the names of all those that we lost. You probably can't see the names very well or even care to read them. There is 458 of them--the poster isn't even big enough to accommodate all of the names. That is 458 families shattered forever. That is 458 departments forever changed. That is 458 lives lost.
As the wife of a first responder, I know all too well that feeling of twists and turns and pain that comes when a SWAT callout has come out. I know what it is like to sit at the kitchen table and wait for the call, the text letting me know that the callout is over and that my husband is on his way back to the department or to the station.
I know what it is like, and that is perhaps why I stand here today more resolved than ever to stand in defense and in support of those who protect and serve every day. To the spouses of our men and women in law enforcement, know that you have a friend and sister in this fight. Know that your service alongside your partner is just as valuable and important to all those across the country. Whether you call yourself a deputy or an officer, an LEO spouse or family member, the message is simple: My colleagues and I, we see you, we hear you, we support you, and we will always have your six.
To those who seek to divide, defund, and disparage, know that every attempt that you make to hurt our LEOs and defund our departments, it will only be in vain. Your efforts to make our communities less safe will fail. Your efforts to hurt our families will falter. My colleagues and I, we will make sure of it.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the brave men and women who are serving in law enforcement, who protect our communities, and keep our streets safe.
As a former law enforcement for 23 years, I know the sacrifices made by them and their families. Every day, law enforcement officers walk out of their homes leaving their loved ones behind, and put their own lives on the line for the safety and security of others. They don't get to choose which call for service they go on. The dangers they face every day while keeping us safe are all too real.
Instead of showing gratitude for their service, dedication, and sacrifice, far too many people are using defund and disrespect the police rhetoric that is leading to violence against the men and women in blue and brown. In fact, more police officers have been killed in the line of duty under President Biden's leadership than in previous years. It is no secret that morale in the law enforcement community is low, and many dedicated officers are leaving the force.
Police departments across the country are struggling to fill vacancies and crime rates, which have risen. This is a direct result of the demonization and vilification of the profession by some political leaders to score political points. The men and women serving in local law enforcement deserve our respect and support. They are the last line of defense and the protectors of our communities. I am so honored to have served alongside some of these brave men and women.
We must be vocal in expressing our support for our local law enforcement during these times. We must make the same commitment to them as they have committed to our friends, our families, and our communities. It is the least that we can do for them and their families. I am happy to stand here today, along with so many of my colleagues, to show support.
Unlike my Democrat colleagues, Republicans don't need election year polling to stand with law enforcement who keep our communities safe. Minnesotans and all Americans deserve to live in safe communities, and I will continue to work to ensure this is our shared reality. We all owe them our thanks.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman and my friend and colleague from the great State of Minnesota.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my friend and colleague.
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida, Mrs. Cammack, for having this and honoring law enforcement in this Special Order.
Madam Speaker, the surge and violence across the country and the targeted attacks on our brave law enforcement officers are happening thanks to the Democrats' relentless calls to defund the police.
The left has brazenly stripped the police departments of necessary funding and enacted new laws that actually ensure that violent criminals have the freedom to inflict more harm. To be clear, violent criminals are being released on little to no bail only to kill again.
This is the Democrats' America. These shameful and purely political policies put criminals above law-abiding citizens. Our law enforcement officials should be respected and honored for their role in keeping us safe.
Tonight, I want to highlight one such individual, Tyler County native, growing up in Spurger, Texas, Texas Ranger, Joe Haralson, from my county, Tyler County, Texas.
Joe was an Army infantryman during the Vietnam war and earned the Bronze Star and Air Medal, with Oak Leaf Clusters for both, for his heroic service. Less than a year after returning home in Vietnam from 1971, Joe enrolled himself in the Department of Public Safety's 18-week training academy in Austin, Texas. After a decade of hard work as a DPS officer, Joe finally received his Texas Ranger badge.
This year marks Joe's 41st year with the Texas Rangers. He is the longest serving Texas Ranger in Texas' illustrious history, and what a hero he is. He has served his fellow Texans for more than half a century, and his time in law enforcement is nothing short of amazing and inspiring.
Over the decades, Joe has worked on cases involving murders, robberies, kidnappings, rapes, and much more. He has seen the face of evil countless times, yet is one of the humblest and kindness men that you will ever meet.
It is a privilege to have this American patriot as a friend, share his story, express my sincerest gratitude for his devotion to our community and to our State of Texas. These are the heroes that radical Democrats have abandoned, but I never will.
God bless you, Joe.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the great State of Texas. I am proud to call him friend. Thank you for honoring this incredible patriot.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez), my friend and colleague from the Sunshine State.
Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, the woke left have stood idly by as rabid criminals have embarked on an all-out assault on our police officers. Rather than standing up for the brave men and women of law enforcement--the very ones who put their lives on the line every day to keep our families and communities safe--they have bent over backwards to the most radical fringes of the progressive movement that actively works to defund, disarm, and disband our police departments.
The result? Under Joe Biden's first year as President, police officers have seen a historic spike in violent crime against them.
In 2021 alone, there were 346 officers shot in the line of duty resulting in 63 deaths.
Police officers were victims to 103 ambush-style attacks, which increased 115 percent over the prior year.
The FBI reported a 48.7 increase in 2021 of officers' killings, both on-duty and off-duty, totaling 73 deaths from firearms, vehicles, knives, and other personal weapons. Believe it or not, those numbers represent the highest number of law enforcement officers who were intentionally killed since the terror attacks of September 11.
Last week, House Homeland Security Committee Republicans stood up to demand the Department of Justice open a Federal investigation into these egregious spikes in crime against our police officers.
{time} 2110
President Biden, his administration, and the Democrats who maintain a stranglehold on Congress must find the courage to break with the radical liberals who want to defund, disarm, and disband our police and show up with unprecedented support for our officers in blue.
I, for one, am proud to back the blue. Thank you to our officers for all the work and your sacrifices. Know that the Republicans in this Chamber stand with you and have your back.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the Sunshine State.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko), my friend and colleague.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague on the Homeland Security Committee for holding this important Special Order to let law enforcement officers all over the United States know this simple truth: We support you, and we have your back.
For over 20 years, I served as an organized crime prosecutor on the Federal level, focusing on narcotics, gang, and corruption prosecutions, among many others, in central New York, along the southwest border, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, all over the United States, and all over the world.
I worked alongside incredible men and women in law enforcement every day. They are some of the most courageous and selfless people I know, and they put their lives on the line to protect our communities.
The officers I have worked with were assaulted. They were shot. Some were killed. Yet, time and time again, the officers showed up every day to do their jobs and dispatch their duties with honor and dignity, despite not being paid anywhere near what they should.
Unfortunately, our brothers and sisters in law enforcement are hurting right now. Violence against law enforcement officers has become a troubling pattern across the United States, culminating most recently in violent shooting deaths of officers in New York City and Houston. Sadly, this violence is part of an upward national trend.
According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, in 2021, there were 346 officers shot in the line of duty, and 103 were ambush-style attacks, which increased 115 percent over the prior year. Tragically, 73 officers were killed. According to the data from the FBI, this accounts for a 50 percent increase.
These grim statistics represent the highest number of law enforcement who were intentionally killed since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
As ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee and chair of the American Security Task Force, I have heard directly from law enforcement officers about the challenges police departments face as crimes continue to rise. I have traveled across the country where the effects of the defund the police and go against the police movements are at their worst.
In New York City, for example, the department was cut by close to $1 billion in 2020. In 2021, it broke the State record for annual homicides. They cut cops. They cut shifts. They passed laws in New York State that made it very difficult for officers to do their jobs and made it very easy for violent criminals to get back on the streets.
In Portland, Oregon, a center for the defund the police movement, homicides are up 530 percent. That was because they cut their police department by 10 percent and eliminated the violent crime unit. Of course, that is going to happen. The increase in crime, coupled with recruitment and retention problems, will only compound the crime problems this country is currently facing.
Instead of vilifying police, let's figure out how to make police departments better by investing in them. How can you possibly retrain police when you defund them? How can you implement new policies and get officers ready for those new policies when you cut their funding? It doesn't work.
Today, we are facing troubling new challenges. Our law enforcement officers are being asked to do more with less, and it is putting their lives at risk. In addition to their crime-fighting responsibilities, our officers are on the front lines, facing the threat of terrorism and an unprecedented opioid epidemic.
Homeland security is being degraded because defunded police and vilified police departments do not have sufficient resources for counterterrorism operations.
It takes courage to wear a badge. It takes even more courage to respond to an emergency, to engage a suspect, to walk down a dark alley, or to confront a terrorist. For law enforcement, that is part of their job every single day.
My committee and the task force are proud to stand with law enforcement as they continue to do this honorable work. I will always have their backs, and they will always have my thanks and admiration.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford), my friend and colleague.
Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the men and women in law enforcement who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. In return, Congress owes it to them to do everything in our power to keep them safe.
As many of you know, I spent over 40 years in law enforcement, including 12 years as sheriff of Duval County, Florida. Sadly, some of my friends and colleagues paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. In fact, our memorial wall is filled with the names of too many good police officers who laid down their lives in service to their community.
When you are called to policing, you know the undertaking that you are taking is a dangerous job. This growing antipolice rhetoric and widespread efforts to defund police departments are leaving officers increasingly at risk to attacks, and communities are less safe.
In 2022, 89 officers around the country lost their lives to gunfire, beatings, stabbing, or vehicular assault, officers like Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers, who was killed last year in an attack while conducting a traffic stop in northeast Florida.
So, what are we doing in Congress to help stop these attacks? I have introduced a bipartisan bill called the Protect and Serve Act, which would increase penalties for individuals who deliberately target law enforcement officers with violence. In 2018, the Protect and Serve Act overwhelmingly passed the House 382-35.
I urge my Democrat colleagues to come back to the table and support this important legislation. Police officers' lives depend on it.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Sheriff Rutherford.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a champion for our law enforcement.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for the recognition. She does a great job for the Congress, and we are all so grateful to have her here.
Madam Speaker, this is such an important topic tonight. Ranking Member Katko delineated the number of law enforcement jurisdictions who have seen funding cut and the unfortunate consequences that occurred on the populations that they serve. Did you ever stop to think of what would happen if there were just an absolute defunding of the police department?
Well, unfortunately, we only need to look about a hundred years past to see such an example. It happened in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1919. The police force was unfunded, and the city was unprotected. This was documented in a book by a gentleman named Francis Russell. The book is called ``A City in Terror.''
What was startling to me when I read the book was not that there was a gradual descent into lawlessness, but it happened like turning a switch. Police were not on the job. The city sunk into chaos--
robberies, beatings, assaults, looting. And it went on for several days until the Governor of that State called up the National Guard and reasserted authority.
Who was that Governor? It is kind of a rarity to stop and think about it now, but it was a Republican Governor of Massachusetts named Calvin Coolidge. It was that activity of restoring order in the city that catapulted him to fame and caused him to receive the Vice Presidential nomination in the Republican Convention of 1920. And as they say, the rest is history.
Please, let us not forget our history. Defunding the police does not lead us to a better place. It does not lead us to a more just and civil society. It invites chaos.
{time} 2120
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Burgess for his steadfast support for law enforcement.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline), who is my friend and a supporter of law enforcement.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me and for hosting this Special Order. I would be here to speak in support of the men and women in law enforcement regardless.
Tonight, I come to the House floor to honor two local heroes: Officers John Painter and J.J. Jefferson, who were killed in the line of duty last week while responding to reports of a suspicious individual at nearby Bridgewater College. Their funerals this week will be overflowing with members of the community, the campus, law enforcement, and members of government and civil officials, all of whom loved these two heroes.
Officer John Painter dedicated his life to public service. Prior to becoming a campus police officer at Bridgewater, Painter served in the United States Air Force and the Army National Guard. He spent time as a deputy sheriff in King George County, and he was a member of the Grottoes Police Department for 18 years before retiring as chief in 2018.
Painter was known as a loving family man with a great loyalty to his friends and community. Those who knew him say that his devotion to others could not go unnoticed.
Like Officer Painter, Officer J.J. Jefferson committed his life to protecting and serving others before coming to Bridgewater College in 2018. Jefferson began his law enforcement career in 1997 as a patrol officer with the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office prior to spending 12 years as national reconnaissance officer in Chantilly, Virginia. Jefferson then served as a sergeant with the Shenandoah University Department of Public Safety during which time he was awarded the James B. Wilkins Award for his proactive security initiatives. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Jefferson is remembered for his boisterous laugh and endearing smile.
Known as the dynamic duo, the two officers were the closest of friends with Officer Painter even serving as the best man at Jefferson's wedding.
Students describe the officers as family and said the pair ``really cared about all of us--all of us.''
Painter and Jefferson made it a point to connect with those they were tasked with protecting, embedding themselves into the community by eating lunch with students, hanging out with them at campus gathering spots, and offering words of wisdom to those they interacted with.
Officers Jefferson and Painter gave their lives to protect students on campus, and our community is forever grateful for their sacrifice. Their efforts surely prevented even greater loss of life, and the dynamic duo's actions will never be forgotten.
The Bridgewater community mourns their tragic passing, and our prayers remain with their families in this difficult time.
Tonight, we remember the words in John 15:13: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
Rest in peace, Officers Painter and Jefferson.
God bless.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield to my friend and colleague from the Sunshine State of Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who is a champion for law enforcement.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the brave men and women who serve in law enforcement throughout our great Nation.
New statistics indicate that intentional killings of law enforcement officers in 2021 reached a 20-year high--this is tragic--excluding 9/
11.
Tragically, two of those officers killed in the line of duty during 2021 have been my constituents: Deputy Michael Magli of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen of Tampa Police Department. I went to the funeral services of those two heroes and shared the anguish of their grieving families and colleagues.
Additionally, in 2014, Officer Charlie K. Kondek from my hometown of Tarpon Springs, Florida, who was part of the Tarpon Springs Police Department, was killed in the line of duty.
These fallen heroes leave behind a distinguished legacy of service and sacrifice that deserves to be honored.
I am proud to cosponsor, along with my great friend, Kat Cammack, from Gainesville, Florida--so we are Floridians and Florida Gators--the Back the Blue Act and the Protect and Serve Act of 2021. Both of those bills will increase the Federal penalties for crimes targeting members of the law enforcement community and strengthen funding for programs to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Law enforcement agencies around the country have faced undeserved political attacks by the defund the police movement. This is unacceptable as far as I am concerned. This is a dangerous and destructive proposition and has only increased violence.
We should, in fact, be increasing support and funding for our law enforcement. I respect the service and sacrifice of our first responders and their families, and I will continue to do everything I can to support them.
Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for having this Special Order which is so very important. I appreciate it.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from the freedom State, Florida, for his remarks.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), who is the ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a fellow patriot and ardent supporter of law enforcement.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend, Congresswoman Kat Cammack from Florida, for her organization of this Special Order tonight.
Madam Speaker, I know that these Special Orders go long, and I know quite often the person who is sitting in the Speaker's chair quite often focuses on whatever is going on on their cell phones, but I really hope that you are paying attention tonight because my district is right across from yours.
Last year, two families in my district received the call that every law enforcement family just dreads--a call informing them that their loved ones will not be returning home.
On August 4, Brooklyn, Illinois, Police Officer Brian Pierce Jr. was deploying spike strips on a bridge during a car chase. He was hit and fatally injured by the fleeing vehicle. Brian was only 24 years old.
On October 26, we lost Pontoon Beach, Illinois, Police Officer Tyler Timmins. He was tragically killed while investigating a stolen vehicle at a gas station. Tyler was only 36 years old, Madam Speaker, and a 14-
year veteran of the force. He left behind his wife, Linsey, whom he had just married 1 month before as well as his daughter, Chloe.
Sadly, their families are not alone in their pain. In 2021, 73 officers were killed in the line of duty--the highest number in 26 years. The liberals at the Federal law level, at the State level, and at the local level push to defund police, Madam Speaker. I want you to understand that that agenda has made our communities less safe.
Even in the State of Illinois on a lame-duck session in the middle of the night they passed the bill that made it to where we defunded police and endangered our police officers. Their rhetoric has emboldened criminals, putting our brave officers' lives in danger.
Despite it all, our police officers continue to show up and run towards the danger to protect our communities every day, even if they are being shot at.
Madam Speaker, do you know why this is so personal to me?
My son-in-law is a deputy sheriff in Jackson County, Illinois.
This issue is personal to me and my family.
Why?
Because I see the crap he sees every day. But I know that he is doing it because he cares about those who need help.
I will always stand for our men and women of law enforcement and will do all that I can to ensure they get the support that they deserve. I only wish that all of my colleagues would join in with me to do that and stop spreading the rhetoric of defunding police.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from the great State of Illinois for his impassioned and accurate remarks.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), who is my good friend.
Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Kat for holding this very Special Order tonight.
I rise today to honor our police officers and to condemn those who shamefully unleash defund the police rhetoric into our communities. Next to me are the images of nearly 90 police officers who were killed in the line of duty just last year.
{time} 2130
There are so many lives lost that I had to make three separate posters. These courageous men and women lost their lives by being shot, assaulted, stabbed, or hit by cars.
Sadly, America has seen a 115 percent increase in ambush attacks on our police officers. There is no doubt in my mind that liberal hatred and vitriol against law enforcement played a role in the uptick of the attacks on our officers. It is clear: Rhetoric has consequences.
The faces on these pages are fathers and mothers, loved ones. One of them was a fellow Missourian. Last year, Police Officer Blaize Madrid-
Evans of Independence, Missouri, lost his life while responding to a call when a criminal opened fire and killed him. Blaize was only 22 years old, and he was engaged to be married. He had his whole life ahead of him. This is tragic. This is unacceptable. Things must change.
Our law enforcement officers deserve our respect, support, and thanks. Nothing else.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington
(Mr. Newhouse), my friend and colleague, a champion for our law enforcement officers.
Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mrs. Cammack very much for yielding. I am proud to join my colleagues and rise today in honor of the brave men and women in blue who serve and protect us each and every day.
According to new statistics released by the FBI, intentional killings of law enforcement in 2021 were the highest in 20 years. Every day police officers across central Washington, as well as the United States, put on a badge and go to work knowing that they may face extremely dangerous situations, exacerbated by significant economic uncertainties, open border policies, and the raging opioid crisis.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these individuals who risk their lives to enforce the law and protect our communities. Law enforcement officers take time away from their families and their loved ones, often without the thanks that they deserve and often putting themselves in harm's way.
Before I highlight some of our officers who are currently serving the great State of Washington, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for the victims of today's tragic shooting in Richland, Washington, and the officers who are currently investigating that incident.
Trooper David Brandt of the Tri-Cities was selected as the 2020 Washington State Trooper of the Year. Trooper Brandt not only demonstrates a strong commitment to law enforcement, but takes the time to personally connect with his community; from reading books to schoolchildren to conducting safety classes for women to delivering meals to families in need.
King County Trooper Patoc also goes beyond above and beyond the line of duty and just last year saved the life of a man on the brink of committing suicide, who is now receiving the critical help that he requires.
These officers are the kinds of heroes that we need, and they deserve our utmost support and recognition. I also want to recognize some officers whose lives were recently lost.
In just January of this year, we lost Trooper Robert LaMay of Yakima, who served honorably for over two decades. In October of last year, we lost Trooper Detective Eric Gunderson of Tacoma in the line of duty. These and all of our fallen officers will not be forgotten.
I want to personally thank the police and sheriff's departments of Washington State Patrol, and all of the officers who keep central Washington's communities safe. Today and every day we offer our appreciation and respect for law enforcement officers across the Nation.
Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Mrs. Cammack, my friend, for putting together this Special Order.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Newhouse for his comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), a friend and colleague, and a champion for our law enforcement.
Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for organizing this Special Order, the important things for which we should all be very passionate about.
Defunding the police is not just a Democrat slogan, it is a dangerous policy that has been advocated by some Washington Democrats and is having devastating consequences for the morale and safety of America's law enforcement officers.
In 2021, 346 officers were shot, and ambush-style attacks increased by 115 percent from 2020. Last month, we all watched as NYPD officers lined the streets of Manhattan to honor two of their fallen brothers who were shot and killed in the line of duty.
Criminal acts of violence against law enforcement are becoming all too common. Despite this fact, Washington Democrats continue to call for defunding the police, and stoke division between the public and the heroes who keep us safe every day and sacrifice to do so.
Painting law enforcement out to be the bad guy doesn't make America safer. It does exactly the opposite, and it only serves to embolden more criminal behavior and lawlessness. Our officers protect us every day and they need our support now more than ever.
I stand with law enforcement, and I stand for law and order. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for having this important Special Order.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Keller for his comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), my friend and colleague.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Much of the police hatred that we get stems from horribly divisive politicians like President Biden, who claim that Black children must be taught to tolerate racist abuse from police just to make it home.
President Obama also had quotes encouraging police hatred by screaming racism. Let's look at the facts as pointed out by Heather Mac Donald in an excellent article in The Wall Street Journal. Sadly, groups who are involved in crime are more likely to get in confrontations with police. Fifty-three percent of homicide offenders in America and 60 percent of robberies are committed by the same demographic that Black Lives Matter purports to help. Study after study after study analyzing the statistics shows no racism.
Other studies show that Black and Brown policemen are more likely to shoot suspects than White officers, also inconsistent with the racial narrative.
You might say why discuss this issue? Who cares if we lie and tear down the police? I suggest that the Congressmen around here all make an effort to do a ride-along with the police. See what great, selfless human beings they are before you scream racism without cause.
Furthermore, police are human, and when you keep calling police racists, I think sometimes police have a tendency to back off and become less assertive. And that is one of the major reasons a big city near me, the city of Milwaukee, for 2 years in a row we have had massive, record numbers of homicides in the city. That is what happens when the police become cowed and less effective.
It has resulted, I think, in dozens of murders in Milwaukee that would not have happened without the racist antipolice groups. And by groups, I point out, not only politicians, but the NFL has encouraged police dislike with their Black Lives Matter support in the stadiums. Stand up to the cheap politicians tearing down the police. Stand up to the billionaires who own the NFL and fan the flames of anti-race feelings, and stand with the police of America who are doing a tremendous job.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Wisconsin for his comments.
It is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), my friend and a champion for law enforcement.
Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Cammack for yielding.
Madam Speaker, our great Nation is blessed with dedicated law enforcement officers who wake up every morning to maintain law and order, keep communities safe, and answer the call when criminals strike. Yet, their sacrifice has been met with radical calls from the left to defund the police, and also horrific attacks from those people who believe in defunding the police.
In 2021 alone, there were 346 officers shot in the line of duty, including 63 tragic deaths. Additionally, there was almost a 50 percent increase in police officer murders last year, totaling 73 deaths from violent criminals who have no respect for law and order.
These startling statistics represent the highest number of law enforcement officers who were murdered since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
{time} 2140
This violence isn't just sequestered to major cities either. It is happening all across the United States. Unfortunately, my home district, Georgia's Ninth, a district that is primarily rural, knows this harsh reality all too well.
Back in November of last year, Jackson County, my home county, lost both a mother and a heroic police officer, Deputy Lena Marshall. After responding to a domestic call that escalated to a violent shootout, Deputy Marshall's life was taken while serving to keep Georgians safe.
Any act of criminal violence is an assault on justice, which is why we must provide our brave men and women in blue with the community support, the resources, and especially the political backing needed to adequately respond to surging crime across our Nation.
Those in political office show both ignorance and cowardice when they side with criminals and, thereby, undermine those who serve and protect.
May God protect our courageous law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line each and every day, and God bless the fallen heroes, like Deputy Marshall, who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the communities they serve.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Georgia for those words.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), my friend and colleague.
Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, over the last year, our law enforcement officers have been faced with targeted attacks, skyrocketing crime rates, and decimated budgets.
Madam Speaker, despite these challenges, our law enforcement officers continue to protect and serve our communities with unwavering bravery, sacrifice, and selflessness.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent so many incredible law enforcement officers in eastern North Carolina, all of whom put themselves at risk each day so that the rest of us can live in safe, secure communities.
Madam Speaker, Deputy Zachary Bellingham, a former U.S. Marine and deputy for the Craven County Sheriff's Office, in my district, is no exception.
On October 21, 2021, Deputy Bellingham sustained life-threatening injuries while performing a wellness check in New Bern, North Carolina, when he was shot in the line of duty. Following his injuries, he was taken to Carolina East Medical Center, airlifted to Greenville, and received emergency surgery. He was then transferred to Shepherd's Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, where he has shown strong perseverance in his rehabilitation.
The conduct and actions of Deputy Bellingham embody the values of a true American hero. Madam Speaker, his brave actions on that fateful day highlight the very best of our law enforcement and all they do to protect our communities. I am so relieved to know that Deputy Bellingham is in good care and continuing his road to recovery.
After his injury, members of our community quickly rallied around Deputy Bellingham, offering him well-wishes in support of his recovery.
His service, Madam Speaker, is one we all honor and appreciate, and I am grateful to represent such a compassionate and caring community in eastern North Carolina.
Madam Speaker, please join us in expressing our sincere gratitude to not only this deputy but all law enforcement officers for their commitment to keeping us and our families safe each and every day.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), my friend and colleague and a champion of law enforcement.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack), for her leadership in putting together this Special Order this evening to honor our local law enforcement officers. I can think of few people more deserving of this honor than the men and women in local law enforcement, as their daily acts of heroism, bravery, and courage keep our communities safe.
Tonight, we have heard numerous examples of officers displaying acts of heroism while in the line of duty. I would like to include a few more from my district back in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Officers Tiffany Mountjoy and Chris Keene of the Franklin, Ohio, Police Department, ran into a house engulfed in flames, without protective gear, to save the life of an 82-year-old woman who was trapped inside.
Cincinnati Police Officer Sonny Kim was shot and killed in the line of duty by an individual whose apparent motive was to lure and murder as many police officers as possible.
Colerain Township Police Officer Dale Woods was responding to a traffic accident when he was hit by a truck. Officer Woods, a father of three children, who had served the community with distinction for 15 years, died 3 days later.
Finally, one of most heroic occurrences by police officers in my congressional district in recent memory took place a couple of years back when Cincinnati police officers responded to an active shooter situation in downtown Cincinnati at the Fifth Third Bank on Fountain Square. Their quick actions saved the lives of countless civilians who were in the building that day, whose lives probably would have been lost but for their heroism.
According to the FBI, there were 73 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year by felonious homicide, meaning they were killed with firearms, vehicles, knives, or assaults. That is nearly twice as many as were killed in the line of duty the year before. Of those, 32 officers were killed last year by ambush attack, which is twice as many as the previous 2 years combined.
These numbers are quite disturbing, particularly when you consider that many Democrat elected officials across the country, and in this very House, support policies which are antipolice, like defunding the police or dismantling police departments or eliminating qualified immunity, which means they could be sued personally as police officers.
We need to be supporting our police officers all across the country, not implementing policies that put them at risk.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague for being a continual champion for our law enforcement officers.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), my friend and colleague and a champion for law enforcement.
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, this last year has seen an unprecedented wave of violence against law enforcement officers across our country.
In particular, in my home State of California, 23 law enforcement agents were shot in the line of duty last year. In my own district, the Eighth District of California, one was unfortunately shot and killed by gunfire. That was Sergeant Dominic Vaca of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Congress needs to work to support and improve our law enforcement agencies, not to defund or dismantle them.
I am committed to protecting our law enforcement agencies and to defending the rule of law across our country and their efforts to keep our community safe.
Madam Speaker, last year, I was proud to host a dinner in honor of 15 of California's Eighth's first responder community who went above and beyond the call of duty last year to serve and protect our community.
Amongst our honorees were San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff Dustin Whitson, who was shot in the line of duty while responding to a call at a storage facility in Hesperia; California Highway Patrol Inland Division Officer Garret Morris, who helps run an after-school racing team to provide community support and a safe alternative to illegal street racing for kids in our community; San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff Tiffany Kautz, who was instrumental in obtaining the arrest and conviction of a man who was sexually abusing his own stepchildren; San Bernardino County Probation Corrections Supervisor Gina Martinez, who passed away last September after 21 years of ensuring that each youth in her care obtained a diploma, employment, and a place that they could call home and feel safe.
Madam Speaker, these law enforcement officers are examples of the dedication our first responders show to our community every day, and their stories are echoed by countless law enforcement personnel across our country.
Madam Speaker, it is time that this Congress stands behind our law enforcement officers and the rule of law.
Madam Speaker, I thank each of our law enforcement officers for their dedication to our community.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of California for continuing to be a champion for our police departments and law enforcement officers.
Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 7 minutes remaining.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, it is pretty challenging to be standing in a room that, from the view of C-SPAN, is filled. But I can tell you right now that it is just you and me, Madam Speaker, as well as my colleague from the Sunshine State, Representative Rutherford, behind me, as well as some of our fantastic staff here on the House floor.
{time} 2150
I think it is time that we stop playing these partisan games and really come together because this truly is a bipartisan issue. This is an issue that affects our communities as a whole, and I think if we are going to call for responsibility, actions, and words, we should start in this Chamber.
I have a quote here that I wanted to read from one of our colleagues. It says: ``I am going to make sure that I have security because I know I have had attempts on my life, and I have too much work to do. There are too many people that need help right now. So, if I end up spending
$200,000, if I spend $10 more on it, you know what? I get to be here to do the work. So suck it up, and defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets because we are trying to save lives.'' Madam Speaker, those are your words.
See, when I was homeless about a decade ago, I wasn't privileged enough to have $200,000 to spend on private security. In fact, it was a comfort knowing that at any moment, in some of the toughest situations that were happening around us--violence, abuse--that a quick call to 911 would result in someone coming to help. We had nothing but the reassurance that on the other end of that line, someone was coming to help, someone was willing to answer the call.
I know that there is far more in this country that unites us than divides us, but I cannot tell you how disappointed I am as we have stood here for the last hour reciting stories of heroism, of selflessness--if I had time, I would recite the names of our fallen officers, but I simply haven't enough time. And, quite frankly, Madam Speaker, you haven't even looked up off your phone.
To Americans who are watching this, know that there are people in this Congress who do give a damn, who will look up off their phone, who are not too bothered to listen. We will not stop fighting. We will continue to back the blue.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 24
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up