[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 160 (Wednesday, September 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 697--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN 
  OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND URGING THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED 
                      STATES TO ``BACK THE BLUE''

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cotton, Mrs. 
Loeffler, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Braun, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Graham, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Daines, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. McSally, and 
Mr. Portman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 697

       Whereas the cowardly attack on 2 Los Angeles County 
     Sheriff's Department deputies on September 12, 2020, is the 
     latest example of an alarming trend of targeted violence 
     toward Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers;
       Whereas, as of September 11, 2020, the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation reported that 37 law enforcement officers have 
     been feloniously killed in the United States in 2020, 
     representing a more than 20 percent increase in law 
     enforcement homicides compared to the same period last year;
       Whereas more than 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers in 
     the United States perform innumerable daily acts of bravery 
     and service for their communities that often go entirely 
     unreported;
       Whereas radical politicians, reckless media figures, and 
     organized protest movements bent on sowing civil unrest have 
     sought to vilify and denigrate the courageous men and women 
     of our law enforcement agencies, while inciting, encouraging, 
     or celebrating widespread criminal activity and violence 
     against law enforcement officers;
       Whereas crime rates, including rates of violent crime, have 
     dramatically risen in several cities across the United States 
     as radical politicians pursue a dangerous campaign to 
     ``defund the police'', starving law enforcement agencies of 
     much-needed resources to combat the growing threat to their 
     communities;
       Whereas maintaining law and order is fundamental to the 
     safety, security, and prosperity of our communities; and
       Whereas now is the time to ``Back the Blue'', and express 
     our full-throated support for the selfless work of our 
     courageous law enforcement officers who protect all law-
     abiding citizens against the threats posed by criminals and 
     violent domestic groups interested in sowing chaos and 
     destruction: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses gratitude to the brave men and women of our 
     Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies who 
     selflessly serve their communities;
       (2) stands united to ``Back the Blue'' and support the law 
     enforcement agencies and officers that stand on the front 
     lines every day to maintain law and order so that our 
     communities can prosper;
       (3) condemns the perpetrators, instigators, and celebrators 
     of violence against law enforcement officers; and
       (4) calls for the people of the United States to--
       (A) denounce the recent cowardly attack on the Los Angeles 
     County Sheriff's Department deputies;
       (B) assist in the identification and apprehension of the 
     criminal who perpetrated the cowardly attack; and
       (C) pray for the speedy and full recovery of the deputies.

                          ____________________