118 HRES 1213 IH: A resolution regarding violence against law enforcement officers. U.S. House of Representatives 2024-05-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Whereas, beginning in 2020, and in conjunction with the defund the police movement, respect for the rule of law and law enforcement officials diminished;Whereas this change in attitude has resulted in record death and injury to America’s law enforcement officers at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal level;Whereas policies implemented at several State and local jurisdictions have increased the difficulty and added significant risks for law enforcement to do their jobs effectively and safely;Whereas law enforcement is demanded to handle societal problems, including a nationwide mental health crisis, record-setting overdose poisonings due to fentanyl, and an increase in the homeless population;Whereas the lack of accountability for violent criminals with decreased penalties and no-bail policies has opened the door for record criminal activity in cities across the country;Whereas these policies have encouraged the public to aggressively and violently engage with law enforcement;Whereas law enforcement officers answer every service call, regardless of community support or ridicule;Whereas law enforcement officers answer every service call, regardless of the threat to their lives;Whereas there are currently 23,785 names of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC;Whereas the deadliest year on record for law enforcement was 2021, when 586 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty;Whereas, in 2022, 224 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty;Whereas, in 2023, 137 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty;Whereas 378 law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty in 2023, the highest year on record, of which 115 were violent ambush attacks;Whereas the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund anticipates adding at least 151 names to the sacred walls in the spring of 2024, representing the current and historical deaths which, to date, have been approved as line-of-duty deaths;Whereas the average fallen law enforcement officer is 45 years old;Whereas the average fallen law enforcement officer has 15 years of service;Whereas the average fallen law enforcement officer leaves behind 2 children; andWhereas current data does not show how many law enforcement officers are assaulted, injured, or disabled in the line of duty each year: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives—(1)condemns calls to defund the police, which has increased violence towards law enforcement officers;(2)recognizes that law enforcement officers must have the equipment, training, and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public as well as their fellow law enforcement officers on the job;(3)recognizes the need for better data collection on law enforcement officers who are assaulted, injured, or disabled in the line of duty;(4)acknowledges its responsibility for exemplifying a respect for the rule of law and for the law enforcement officers who protect communities across the Nation;(5)acknowledges the mental stress and strain law enforcement officers suffer not only due to the pressures and realities of the job, but also the negative environment in which they often must work;(6)acknowledges the need to strengthen its relationship with law enforcement to ensure policy decisions are aligned with the realities law enforcement officers face daily; and(7)expresses condolences and solemn appreciation to the loved ones of each law enforcement officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.