[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H3044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
                            DEFENDING POLICE

  (Mr. PALAZZO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, just a year ago, south Mississippi 
mourned the senseless murder of Officer Robert McKeithen, and this 
month, Mississippi lost one of our sheriff's deputies, James Blair, in 
the line of duty.
  Despite the dangers from criminals and lawlessness in our 
communities, some in America continue to call for defunding and 
dismantling police departments across the country. While we watched 
stores looted and cities burned by street thugs and anarchists, the men 
and women of law enforcement were labeled as the enemy.
  Madam Speaker, police officers are not the enemy. They are the thin 
blue line standing between good and evil, civilization and chaos. I 
stand here today in 100 percent support of defending our police 
officers and not defunding them.
  Madam Speaker, I ask all the good citizens of America to stand up and 
do the same. Defunding law enforcement is not the answer to the 
problems of this country. Removing criminals from our streets is.
  May God bless the men and women in blue and their families.

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