[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3942-H3945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE THAT CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT SHOULD
EMPOWER CREATION OF POLICE AND COMMUNITY ALLIANCES
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 285) expressing the sense of the United States
House of Representatives that Congress and the President should empower
the creation of police and community alliances designed to enhance and
improve communication and collaboration between members of the law
enforcement community and the public they serve.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 285
Whereas the United States of America was founded upon the
principles of republican governance which include, but are
not limited to, an adherence to the rule of law;
Whereas the American law enforcement community embodies
society's most salient defenders of the rule of law;
Whereas the ability of the American law enforcement
community to effectively preserve the rights of American
citizens and uphold the rule of law is predicated upon a
healthy and collaborative relationship between police
officers and the communities they serve;
Whereas police and community relations have recently
experienced periods of strain, where mistrust and suspicion
have come to dominate police and community interactions in
many communities and undermine effective policing strategies
and public safety;
Whereas the legitimate concerns of citizens as well as
those of the law enforcement community are not always well
understood by each respective constituency; and
Whereas an open, constructive, and mutually respectful
dialogue meant to address
[[Page H3943]]
these legitimate concerns can dramatically improve police and
community relations, improve public safety, and engage all of
society's stakeholders: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that Congress and the President should
empower the creation of police and community alliances
designed to enhance and improve communication and
collaboration between members of the law enforcement
community and the public they serve.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania). Pursuant to
the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous materials on H. Res. 285, currently under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I am pleased the House is considering this resolution today, which
highlights the critical need to strengthen relationships between police
departments and the communities they serve.
This resolution, cosponsored by the gentleman from the great
Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Taylor), expresses the sense of the
United States House of Representatives that Congress and the President
should empower the creation of police and community alliances designed
to enhance and improve communication and collaboration between members
of the law enforcement community and the public.
Over the past several years, our country has witnessed the tension
between certain police departments and communities come to a head. We
have seen communities grieve over the loss of young men killed in
police shootings.
At the same time, we have seen a concerning spike in ambush attacks
on police officers. We have heard complaints from communities about not
being able to trust the police. We have also heard complaints from
police that certain communities will not help the police in
investigating the violent crimes that plague those very communities.
{time} 1615
To address this strain and divide, in July 2016, the Judiciary
Committee established the bipartisan Policing Strategies Working Group.
This group has held several roundtables and traveled around the country
to speak to police departments and community leaders. Our objective is
to examine police accountability, aggregation towards law enforcement,
and public safety concerns. Our work to highlight and address these
issues is ongoing.
H. Res. 285 continues this progress by publicly supporting the
creation of community-police alliances so that perhaps one day we can
come to a point where there is no divide between the police and the
communities they serve, no longer a sense of profound mistrust, no
longer any sort of us versus them mentality.
When it comes to protecting and serving the community, there
shouldn't be sides. We hope for a day when everyone can realize that
police departments and community leaders seek the same goals: peace,
prosperity, and safety. We hope that this resolution and our continued
work on the Policing Strategies Working Group and the Judiciary
Committee helps to continue the progress the country is making.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Taylor for introducing this resolution, and
I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, this is the week that we take a special
moment to honor those who put on the uniform to provide safety and
security for the civilian population here in the United States called
police persons, law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, and Federal
officers. It is to recognize the importance, in a society of laws, to
have individuals willing to sacrifice and to put the uniform on without
question of their safety or security but, as well, be reminded of the
responsibilities of adhering to the Constitution of the United States.
That is, by and large, the mantra, the standards utilized by law
enforcement officers across the Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 285, a resolution expressing
the sense of the House that Congress and the President should empower
the creation of police and community alliances. I might put a few
balloons in celebration because many of us remember those beautiful
pictures of a little child holding the hand of an individual with a law
enforcement uniform on.
This resolution seeks to enhance and improve collaboration between
the law enforcement community and the public. I salute that. It is
fitting that we have this resolution during National Police Week where
families gather to mourn, but, as well, to celebrate, where officers
come to be acknowledged by their nation, and where we acknowledge the
brave men and women who give so much of themselves to keep us safe.
I support thoughtful measures that provide mechanisms to enhance
resources that will allow our law enforcement officers to serve their
communities effectively. That is why I hope to introduce, with a number
of my colleagues, the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, which
creates and provides a distinctive medallion, as one of its provisions,
to be issued to the survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the
line of duty or memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial.
Remember, the family is very much a part of the service that these
individuals give, and I meet them all the time, sometimes under
conditions that I wish I did not, but I also know how much they
contribute to the community.
The Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act also takes a
comprehensive approach to help foster healthy relationships between law
enforcement and communities by implementing best practices focused on
effective training and deescalation, recruitment, hiring, and
oversight. I think those are elements that can be very important to
protecting our law enforcement and our community.
Our country was founded on some fundamental principles; among those
is the rule of law. But the rule of law depends on the ability of the
public to trust law enforcement, conversely, on the capacity of law
enforcement to carry out their work while preserving the rights of
those whom we serve.
The best combination is, as this resolution intends, strong community
police relations, working together, because there are enough bad guys
that the help of the community can certainly help our law enforcement
officers. For those strained relations that have occurred at different
periods over the last couple of years, we want to, in particular, be
able to work to give resources and training--as I said, best practices
of deescalation--and also to help recruit in diverse communities to be
able to provide that good working relationship with law enforcement all
throughout.
We have seen diversity in law enforcement. In Texas, of course, we
have a number of layered law enforcement from police, to sheriffs, to
constables, to the Texas State rangers. All of these individuals give
opportunities for young people to participate in the law enforcement
arena on the local level.
In an effort to address these concerns last November, I, along with a
bipartisan group of legislators, hosted a briefing with the American
Psychological Association, titled, ``Improving Police-Community
Relations: Psychological Perspectives.'' The briefing explored how
improving relations between law enforcement and communities of color
can reduce violence between police and the public.
One of the speakers discussed the psychological implications of
policies that have, to my appreciation, been stopped and not utilized,
such as stop-and-frisk, that was facing a number of communities
differently from others.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Taylor and the cosponsors of H. Res. 285
for bringing it forward because we can always find ways on a two-way
street. That is what this resolution talks
[[Page H3944]]
about, a two-way street. I look forward to creating that two-way street
with the passage of this resolution and to including in the discussions
different aspects of different and unique communities in our Nation.
We are richly diverse: communities of color, those with different
languages, new status immigrants, and communities of different economic
levels. Dialogue generates peace, so I ask my colleagues to support
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the author of the legislation and the
cosponsors, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Taylor), the chief
sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Police Week, which
encompasses many events and brings thousands of survivors, supporters,
and law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital. Today is Peace
Officers Memorial Day.
Mr. Speaker, I am not naive to the fact that my words today don't
hold a candle to the witness or the words we can no longer hear of the
valiant men and women who sacrificed it all for our communities.
However, we must honor them not simply for them, but for us, for our
very society's structure is built on a foundation of rule of law. We
must continue to strengthen it and inspire our descendants for
generations to come to rise up and serve in uniform. There is nothing
small about the big task it takes to keep the peace, protect the
people, and uphold that thin blue line.
Mr. Speaker, today I also rise in support of H. Res. 285, to express
the deep desire of this Congress to mend any rift, to build any bridge,
and to teach any lesson between law enforcement and the communities
that they serve.
Whether Black, Brown, White, gay, straight, rich, or poor, our
country's courageous law enforcement officers are a rare breed of man
or woman who run to the sound of danger. They are part of the very
fabric of this Nation. Indeed, without their and their family's
sacrifices, our society would most certainly be torn apart with the
darkest of our human impulses.
Their higher purpose and profession has been invaded by politics.
Sure, there are bad apples who must be weeded out with accountability
for an imperfect system. During this Police Week, let us come together,
like we do in unity of our prayer and of our pledge to this great
Nation.
H. Res. 285 encourages us to do better as a society. Law enforcement
officers could always work harder on putting themselves in the shoes of
skeptical people in the community to understand why there is fear, why
some see the law as opposition rather than the same team, and why they
may see, in their lives, that upholding the law is a curse rather than
a blessing. And, my fellow Americans, we must do better.
We in the neighborhoods have to try to look through the eyes of law
enforcement men and women who seek to protect us, help them understand
where we are coming from, educate ourselves on the law, and show more
respect for it. We must create more bonds, build more trust, and teach
more communication, not blow up the very relationships that matter for
ourselves, for our safety, and for our security.
H. Res. 285 states that the U.S. Government should place more weight
between the creation of police and community alliances that are
designed to enhance and improve the causes of communication and
collaboration between the members of both groups.
Mr. Speaker, I know there is much concern and divide in our country
right now on this topic, but we can choose to move in that dangerous
direction as a nation divided into our respective camps. We can follow
in the footsteps of other parts of the world and some of our own
episodes in the past, with both sides contributing to people fearing
for their safety and causing unnecessary injuries or even death, or we
can realize that we are all on the same side and have civil
conversations and express our concerns and questions without the stain
of ugliness that has been far too common.
Never should one feel scared of those in uniform because of the color
of their skin, the style of their clothes, or what side of town they
come from, and never should one of the 99.9 percent of law enforcement
officers in good standing be subjected to disrespect, noncooperation,
or unnecessary fear for their own lives. Let us start and always
believe that all of us support the rule of law and that each of us
truly cares about our causes, our community, and our country.
H. Res. 285 acknowledges the great work that law enforcement officers
do to keep their communities safe, and it pushes for an increase of
dialogue surrounding legitimate concerns within the community and, in
turn, our country.
Mr. Speaker, we have faced difficult times in our past and there will
be difficult times in our future, but I believe in the resiliency of
this Nation. I believe our checks and balances realign over time and
are lasting. Most of all, I believe in our people, that, ultimately,
the push and pull of freedom under the rule of law and debate and
democracy are what strengthens us, our culture, and our society.
Let us choose to engage as one team. Let us always be calm, for calm
is contagious. It will help us better serve each other and understand
each other. In doing so, we shall rise together as one nation under
God.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
resolution, H. Res. 285.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3\1/2\
minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell),
well known for his commitment to first responders throughout the
Nation.
Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the words of Scott
Taylor, the Congressman from Virginia.
This is National Police Week. I would like to see the passage of H.
Res. 285.
As a lead Democratic sponsor of this legislation and co-chair of the
Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I know the importance of
enhancing and improving communication and collaboration between members
of the law enforcement community and the public they serve.
Thousands of law enforcement officers and their families have
traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to pay tribute to those who
made the ultimate sacrifice. While we give thanks every day to the men
and women serving and protecting our communities, this week is a
perfect opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to show America's law enforcement
that we have their back here in the Congress of the United States and
around the country.
Every day our Nation's law enforcement officers put their lives on
the line to protect our families, our friends, our children, our
neighbors, and our communities. The brave men and women who wear the
badge understand the dangers of their job, but they heed the call to
serve and willingly face those risks in order to create safe
communities for all of us.
Tragically, 360 names will be added to the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial here in Washington, D.C., this year; 129 of those
lost their lives in the line of duty last year. Every name added heard
the call to protect and serve and made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving
behind family, friends, brothers and sisters in arms, and their
communities.
{time} 1630
As we remember and pay tribute for their ultimate sacrifice, we
acknowledge the dangers inherent in the job our law enforcement
officers do every day.
This resolution before us recognizes the bravery and sacrifices of
the men and women in blue. It recognizes that we must do more to
enhance and improve communication and collaboration between members of
the law enforcement community and the public they serve.
It is my hope that during this Police Week, we can come together to
honor the sacrifices made by law enforcement.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the other lead sponsors, including Congressman
Scott Taylor, Tom O'Halleran, and the Republican co-chair of the Law
Enforcement Caucus, David Reichert. Fourteen years we have been co-
chairs. We are going to miss him when he leaves us.
[[Page H3945]]
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for bringing this resolution
to the floor, and I ask for a big vote on H. Res. 285.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional speakers and
am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) and
the Law Enforcement Caucus, Mr. Reichert, and I pay tribute to his
service. Certainly, Mr. Pascrell has been on the front lines for a very
long time, and I have been delighted to join him, first, when we were
on the Homeland Security Committee and then continuing on the caucuses
that deal with our first responders across the Nation.
Mr. Speaker, let me indicate to my colleagues that I also rise in
support of H. Res. 285, and to thank Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Taylor, and to
also reinforce what I hope will be a worthy discussion going forward on
the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, which has a wide range of
civil rights groups and police groups who are already beginning to
support us.
This resolution has been introduced before, and we were lucky enough
to get a number of good cosponsors of organizations who believe in our
community-police cooperation.
I happen to come from Houston, where our first African-American
police chief was Lee Brown, who is known as the father of community-
oriented policing, which is the premise, I believe, of this resolution,
getting to know your officers, engaging with your officers, and finding
a way to empower both police and community working together.
The Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, which I look forward to
working with the ranking member of the full committee and ranking
member of the subcommittee and the chairman of the full committee and
the chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland
Security, and Investigations, deals with accreditation, deals with
development programs that are helpful to law enforcement, processes to
address questions raised, and as well the medallion for the family
members' collection of data, and, what I like, the professional
training funding that will come about for additional professional
training that many of the departments would long for and welcomed when
we began to discuss it.
So H. Res. 285 is a very important statement being made that I hope
that all of the Members will join, too, and that is that we need good
police-community relations. We need to develop and empower the creation
of police and community alliances.
We do it in Houston, Texas. We have layered officers. Most people
have never heard of constables. We have them in Texas. The rangers, we
still have the rangers with historic history. We have our police in the
different cities and counties and small towns, and then we have the
deputy sheriffs and sheriffs in our counties all throughout. Many of
these organizations do public service and barbecues. Certainly we all
gather together when we have a person fallen in duty, and as well we
continue to work when there is a tragedy dealing with a civilian as
well.
We must do everything we can to improve the relationship between law
enforcement and the communities we serve. Research shows that in order
to succeed, we must expend the resources needed to improve
communication and collaboration between law enforcement and the public.
There will be many officers up this week. We should see all of them
and engage in a friendly and welcoming way. We should reinforce the
value of having a Nation of laws and those who enforce it, that we are
also neighbors, and that we should look forward to increased community-
police interaction and relationships.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and let
us work together for good in a Nation as great as America is.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, this is a good resolution. I urge my
colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania). The question
is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte)
that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res.
285.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative. The ayes have it.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________