[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2879-S2880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 613--CALLING FOR JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD AND 
                  OPPOSING CALLS TO DEFUND THE POLICE

  Mr. COTTON (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Cruz, Ms. 
Ernst, Mr. McConnell, Ms. McSally, Mr. Toomey, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cramer, 
Mr. Hawley, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Lee, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Tillis, 
Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Daines, Mr. Moran, Mr. Rounds, 
Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Graham, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Scott of 
South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 613

       Whereas a free society depends on the rule of law, which is 
     the foundation for the preservation of public order, peace, 
     and individual rights;
       Whereas the United States has a troubled history of racism 
     that includes slavery, the terror of lynch mobs, segregation, 
     and Jim Crow, and that history leaves the United States with 
     important work to accomplish;
       Whereas the just and unbiased enforcement of the rule of 
     law and the protection of innocent individuals against 
     lawbreakers is the essential function of government at the 
     local, State, and Federal levels;
       Whereas the law enforcement profession is inherently 
     dangerous, and police officers risk their lives every day;
       Whereas, in 2019, 89 Federal, State, local, and Tribal law 
     enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty;
       Whereas law enforcement officers are entrusted by the 
     public to uphold the law;
       Whereas law enforcement officers who abuse their positions, 
     engage in corruption, employ excessive force, or exhibit bias 
     betray the public trust and undermine the rule of law;
       Whereas the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, at the 
     hands of law enforcement was a horrific act that violated the 
     public trust and was inconsistent with the values and conduct 
     expected of law enforcement officers;
        Whereas the law enforcement officers involved in the 
     killing of George Floyd have been terminated from their 
     positions and charged with crimes relating to their conduct 
     and their contribution to the death of George Floyd;
       Whereas good law enforcement cannot exist without 
     accountability and justice;
       Whereas understaffed police departments and undertrained 
     police officers increase the risk of encounters that result 
     in the use of force, including unjustifiable or excessive 
     force; and
       Whereas defunding the police would leave police departments 
     understaffed and undertrained, while also increasing the risk 
     of violent crime to the communities of the United States, 
     especially vulnerable communities: Now, therefore, be it

[[Page S2880]]

       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) calls for justice for George Floyd; and
       (2) opposes efforts to defund the police.

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