[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2255-H2261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Phillips). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, during our time tonight, my 
colleagues and I will recognize the great men and women of law 
enforcement and the critical role they play in keeping our local 
communities safe.
  National Police Week is particularly important this year. Of course, 
we observe it annually, but we all know, over the last year, law 
enforcement has been under constant attack by the political left in 
this country. Everyone can see it with their own eyes. The left has 
demanded to defund police departments. Some Democrats, even elected 
officials, have even gone as far as to call for abolishing the police.
  Yet, in the face of that madness, police officers, nevertheless, 
continue to put their lives on the line every day to protect our 
communities, our families, and all of us. It is such a critical part of 
who we are as Americans.
  As has been noted, we have lost many more officers in the line of 
duty over the past year, and we mourn those tragic losses. Despite the 
sacrificial service and the bravery of law enforcement, there are some 
Democrats even in this body, Mr. Speaker, who continue to push the 
false and outrageous narrative that police are actually somehow to be 
regarded as enemies of the communities they serve and that we don't 
need them.
  Well, tonight, my Republican colleagues and I are here to tell you 
that they are wrong. We need police officers, and we need law and 
order. Nothing makes this more apparent than the spike in violent crime 
and homicides we have seen in Democrat-led cities that have defunded 
their police departments.
  Specifically, there are a few examples here. In Austin, Texas, they 
have seen a 50 percent rise in homicides. In Los Angeles, they saw an 
11.6 percent rise, and in New York City, 45 percent. By the way, in New 
York City, they have a 97 percent rise in shootings.
  Defunding the police is a terrible idea, and anyone who looks 
objectively at this issue obviously knows that.
  So, what should we do about it? We should support our police officers 
and those in law enforcement. We should encourage them to continue 
building strong relationships in all aspects of our communities. We 
should give law enforcement the tools and training they need to 
maintain law and order. Lastly, as a Nation, we must back the blue. We 
would argue it may have never been as important to do that as it is 
right now.
  Mr. Speaker, I have a number of colleagues who will speak to this 
issue, and I will begin by yielding to the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Stauber), my dear friend, who was not only a professional hockey 
player, most people know that, but a lot of people may not realize he 
is also a retired police lieutenant. So, he is, obviously, qualified to 
speak on this issue.
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Johnson for holding 
this incredibly important Special Order this evening.
  For 23 years, I had the privilege of serving my hometown of Duluth, 
Minnesota, as a police officer. I know firsthand the sacrifices law 
enforcement officers make for the safety and security of their 
communities.
  Policing is a noble profession and often a dangerous one. Ninety-one 
officers have been shot so far in 2021.
  Despite this danger, countless men and women still put on the 
uniform, leave their loved ones behind, and put their own lives on the 
line every day.
  During National Police Week, we celebrate and honor these heroes, but 
they deserve our respect for more than just 1 week. They deserve it 
year-round and so do their families.
  This past year has been especially challenging for our law 
enforcement officers. There are some in the media and some in this very 
Chamber who choose to vilify our police officers for the actions of a 
few bad apples. Some have even called to defund the police. This 
reckless and dangerous message has had a chilling effect on our 
society.
  Low morale is causing some officers to retire early. New officer 
recruitment is strained, and crime is on the rise in many cities.
  This irresponsible rhetoric must change, and I call on all of my 
colleagues to help.
  We must all honor the noble profession of policing, which has 
provided every one of us here in this Chamber with safety and security. 
We must all encourage the American people to respect the rule of law 
and those who are entrusted to enforce it.

[[Page H2256]]

  I, for one, am proud to stand here today, to publicly send my thanks 
to our dedicated police officers and to honor those who have made the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  To all my brothers and sisters in the blue and brown, please know 
that you are appreciated, needed, and valued. God bless, and may He 
protect you all.

                              {time}  1815

  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
those words straight from the heart, and he speaks, as we said, with 
great authority on it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), my 
neighboring State, who will speak with equal passion on the issue.
  Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for hosting this very 
important series regarding law enforcement.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today to honor the men and women in blue. 
They have devoted their lives to keeping our communities and families 
safe--unflinching in this mission, even when faced with growing 
hostility and danger. These guardians stand on the front lines, 
regardless of the peril to themselves, not for praise or glory, but to 
protect and serve the citizens and uphold law and order. And no matter 
the situation, they answer the call of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, as I speak, Officer Tyler Franks of the Prairie Grove 
Arkansas Police Department is recovering, having been shot in the line 
of duty just a few days ago. Officer Franks has undergone multiple 
surgeries. He will endure more, and, indeed, has a long road ahead. 
Please pray for Officer Franks.
  Let us also pay tribute to our fallen heroes. We honor the memory of 
Fayetteville Police Officer Stephen Carr, who, in December of 2019, was 
assassinated while sitting in his patrol unit behind the police 
department because of his uniform. We recognize the quick action of 
Corporal Seay Floyd and Officer Natalie Eucce, who immediately acted 
and captured the assassin.
  We also remember Sebastian County Deputy Bill Cooper and Corporal 
Terry Wayne Johnson, both of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in the 
line of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a few examples of the real sacrifices and 
dangers faced by our brave officers every day. I am eternally grateful 
for those who wear the badge and keep the Third District safe.
  This National Police Week, I thank every noble law enforcement 
officer in Arkansas and across our Nation for their dedicated service. 
We salute them.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from 
Arkansas. We do join him in those prayers for Officer Franks and the 
others around the country who are recovering from this violence that so 
many law enforcement officers have had to endure over the past year.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield next to another gentleman in our 
conference, who speaks with great authority on the issue, particularly 
on Police Week. Mr. Troy Nehls of Texas 22 was the former sheriff of 
Fort Bend County, Texas, and he knows of which he speaks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls).
  Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Speaker, as a 30-year law enforcement veteran, the 
rhetoric and hatred I have seen towards police these last 12 months is 
disgusting.
  Rather than recognize the over 800,000 law enforcement officers in 
this country who do their job honorably each and every day, the far 
left has sought to demonize and defund our law enforcement based off 
the actions of the few--the few who fail to uphold their oaths.
  Every year in our country, there are more than 10 million arrests. 
Most Americans never hear a word about the millions of arrests that 
happen without incident.
  Why is that?
  Because it doesn't sell headlines. It doesn't fit the anti-law 
enforcement narrative.
  The hateful anti-law enforcement rhetoric has led to violence and 
destruction in cities across our country. We see it in Seattle, 
Minneapolis, Portland--city blocks burned, businesses destroyed, and 
lives ruined forever. But we are not here today to focus on the anti-
law enforcement zealots.
  This is National Police Week. We are here today to honor the 22,000 
brave law enforcement officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in 
the line of duty.
  In 2021, the names of 394 officers killed in the line of duty were 
added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, 
D.C. Fifty-nine of those brave men and women were from my home State of 
Texas. One of them, I knew.
  Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Constable Deputy Caleb Rule of Needville, 
Texas, tragically lost his life in a friendly fire incident involving 
one of my own sheriff's deputies on May 29, 2020. It is a day I will 
never forget.
  Caleb is survived by his wife, Eden; and four children, Annie, 
Rosalan, Mark and Lizzie. May God bless them.
  It is stories like Caleb's and the hundreds of other brave law 
enforcement officers who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty 
every year, who remind us just how dangerous serving in law enforcement 
is. The focus not only this week but every week should be on their 
bravery, service, and sacrifice. They damn well deserve our respect and 
support today and every day.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the sheriff for his 
service and that passion. It is appropriate tonight, of course.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield next to the gentleman from Kansas' big First 
District. The district, I think, has 63 counties. It is one of the 
largest in the country. He has got a lot of work to do. And they know 
him well because he also happened to have been the 50th Lieutenant 
Governor of the State of Kansas.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann).
  Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for hosting this 
tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Police Week.
  I recognize the dedication of law enforcement officers on the thin 
blue line, and condemn calls to disband, dismantle, defund, or abolish 
the police.
  No one dislikes bad police officers more than good police officers. 
Too often, we are quick to share the negative examples of law 
enforcement while failing to recognize excellent examples in our 
communities.

  Today, I will share a story about an officer in my district and one 
of the finest law enforcement officers in Kansas: Michael Utz.
  Chief Utz began his career with the Garden City Police Department in 
1984. Over the next 36 years, he tirelessly served as a detective, 
sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and ultimately chief of police.
  As police chief, Chief Utz led the department through the 
implementation of a citywide strategic plan, including the development 
of the Law Enforcement Explorer Program for students interested in 
pursuing law enforcement as a career; the Police Chaplain Program for 
hurting families; the PEER Support Program for police officers 
experiencing traumatic events; the Finney County Opioid Task Force; and 
the Ethnic Empowerment Network.
  Also during his tenure, Chief Utz encouraged authentic relationships, 
and he especially worked to build two-way relationships with racial and 
ethnic minorities. These relationships proved to be vital after the 
2016 terrorist bomb plot targeting a Garden City apartment complex.
  When the FBI reached out to Chief Utz about the bomb plot, he knew 
just what to do. He worked with the president of the East African 
Community Center to convene a meeting with people in the community to 
discuss the incident before it even hit the news. Once the news broke 
about the foiled attack, Chief Utz made it his personal mission to work 
alongside impacted families and protect them from further danger.
  In March, Mike retired with more than 36 years in law enforcement, 
and Courtney Prewitt was sworn in as the Garden City chief of police.
  I am honored to recognize Chief Utz and his family for their service 
to our local communities, and to congratulate Courtney on his new role, 
and to celebrate good law enforcement officers across the First 
District of Kansas and around the country who put on a uniform every 
day and promise to protect and serve.
  In their honor, I cosponsored several pieces of pro-law enforcement 
legislation, including a resolution condemning calls to defund the 
police; the

[[Page H2257]]

Protect and Serve Act, which enhances penalties to anyone targeting and 
attacking law enforcement officers; the David Dorn Back the Blue Act, 
which supports State and local police departments; and a resolution 
designating this week as National Police Week.
  America must stand with and stand for our law enforcement officers. 
Happy National Police Week.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
those important words.
  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield next to a gentleman from Utah, a 
freshman who has made a big mark here in the First District of Utah. He 
is also a former officer of the U.S. Foreign Service.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore).
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a simple point 
in support of the women and men serving in uniform across America. We 
must reject the myopic narrative that the actions of a dishonorable 
very few should dominate how we view, appreciate, and honor our police 
force.
  Prior to Congress, I worked as a consultant with professionals in 
many industries. I never met anyone in any field who wasn't interested 
in improving their performance, and our police force is no different. 
However, if we continue to criticize and demonize our officers as a 
whole, we may find ourselves in a position where good, honorable men 
and women, professionals like fallen Officer Nathan Lyday from Ogden, 
Utah, who was killed almost one year ago in the line of duty, are no 
longer willing to wear the badge.
  I am so grateful for our Nation's police force. They need our backing 
now, more than ever, and it is our duty to support them as we learn and 
move forward from recent tragic events.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and I 
appreciate his remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, from Utah, we will move over to one of our favorite 
representatives from the great State of Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds), a 
freshman who also made a big mark here and who came from the Florida 
House of Representatives.
  Mr. DONALDS. Mr. Speaker, I want to cut to the chase this evening. It 
is a story I don't really tell much, but when I was 16 years old, I was 
held up at gunpoint. I was coming home from basketball practice, and it 
was dark. Frankly, they just came right out of a bodega on the corner.
  When I got home, the first thing my mother did--well, first, she 
tried to stop me from going back after the people who robbed me because 
I was very upset. I was 16 and I was robbed and I was angry. But then 
she called the police, and they came promptly and they did everything 
they could to try to find the people who assaulted me.
  You see, in community after community across our country, the police 
are the ones who stand in the gap between law-abiding citizens and 
those, frankly, who are criminalized, who were assaulted, where some 
damage is caused to that person.
  The police are the ones in our communities. They patrol the streets. 
They try to keep our neighborhoods safe. They are the ones who put 
their lives on the line every single day, who may not go home. They are 
the ones who are the pillars of every community in our great country.
  So on National Police Week, the number one thing we need to learn not 
just on this specific week, but in every week, is that we need to show 
them the necessary honor and respect that they deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, we have all seen the videos that get thrown in front of 
us. We have seen the handful of acts that all Americans find 
distasteful. But the uniform, that badge, the officers that serve every 
day, they serve our communities with honor and with distinction. So it 
is really my pleasure and my honor to honor all those officers, 
including the ones in this very Capitol, who protect us every single 
day.

  All Americans need to remember that, that when times get tough, and 
you really need help, 911 is right there, and our officers show up and 
they are always ready to protect and serve.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Florida for his remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, from there, I am delighted to go north a bit. We will go 
to my friend GT Thompson, who is the ranking member on the House 
Committee on Agriculture, and who happens to represent the largest 
geographical district in the State of Pennsylvania, in terms of 
congressional districts.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and 
I appreciate his leadership on this Special Order of standing with 
those who stand for us each and every night.
  These are folks, members of our law enforcement, who, because of what 
they do, because of their courage, because of their commitment, we can 
sleep without concern and fear and we can make our way throughout the 
day.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today during this National Police Week to honor 
these men and women in blue. Established by a joint resolution of 
Congress in 1962, National Police Week plays a special recognition to 
those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of 
duty for the safety and the protection of others.
  National Police Week is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement 
Officers Memorial Fund and supported by a variety of organizations to 
honor the law enforcement community. The mission of the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is to tell the story of American law 
enforcement, honor the fallen, and make it safer for those who serve.
  Over the past year, our law enforcement officers have been in the 
spotlight. Bad actors must be held accountable, but it is dangerous to 
villainize all police officers, and it is even more dangerous to seek 
to defund the police.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the National Police Week 
resolution, which honors by name the 384 officers who were killed in 
the line of duty in 2020.
  This resolution underscores the steadfast support and appreciation 
for law enforcement. As we honor National Police Week, it is important 
to take a moment to remember the sacrifices many officers, as well as 
their families, have made.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), 
another important voice to this Special Order tonight, my friend and 
colleague and classmate. We mentioned earlier how important New York is 
in this whole issue, particularly this year with the rapid rise in New 
York City, in particular, of their homicide rate and violent crime. I 
know she has a lot to say on the issue.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson so much for holding this 
very important evening of Special Orders to honor National Police Week. 
I am so honored to be here on behalf of our men and women in blue, who 
do such a great job supporting us.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to put out a few facts on this that I 
thought would be interesting to our listeners. There are over 800,000 
law enforcement officers across the United States serving and 
protecting our communities, and I commend them as they serve at great 
personal risk.
  These public servants intervene daily in dangerous and life-
threatening situations to deescalate tensions, to provide emergency 
care, to apprehend criminals, to defend the most vulnerable, and to 
protect the constitutional rights of all Americans.
  Over the past year, law enforcement officers have faced unprecedented 
challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising violent 
crime. In 2020, 264 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. 
In my community alone, we have tragically lost friends in law 
enforcement, over a dozen in just my community who were killed in the 
line of duty. That is just way too many.
  In 2021, across the Nation, 49 law enforcement officers have died, 
making it the deadliest period for law enforcement in decades.
  Amidst these unparalleled challenges, unfortunately, politicians in 
Washington and around the country have perpetuated this idea that law 
enforcement officers are the enemy. If any of you watched or saw the 
wonderful law enforcement officer, who is also the mother of a young 
child, saving that toddler shot in Times Square, carrying this young 
child to safety, it would warm anyone's heart.

[[Page H2258]]

  We know how hard they work and how much they care for their 
communities.
  But, unfortunately, some have gone so far as to create a dangerous 
movement, known as defund the police, that demonizes the police, 
imperils our public safety, and needlessly divides our communities.
  My priorities in Congress are to support law enforcement and bring 
our communities back together. We must move beyond the divisive and 
damaging rhetoric, mend the relationships between police and the 
communities they serve, and give our police officers the legal 
protections and tools they need to do their jobs safely and 
effectively.
  We have done some of this in our community, and I want to highlight 
just one chief of police, Mark Williams, from the city of Utica, who 
has worked extensively in community policing programs, which has 
tremendously brought down the crime rate in terms of interactions with 
police. We still have challenges out there, but he is working hard to 
try to invest in community policing programs.
  We need money and resources to do that, and we would not be 
successful if we actually defunded the police and didn't give them the 
opportunity to work with these communities to recruit people, people in 
the neighborhoods who want to protect their own communities and who 
actually care.
  Toward these objectives, I look forward to working with my colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle. We have to solve these problems. It is 
essential to our safety. It is an essential role of government to keep 
us safe. Our constituents are depending on us.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for doing this. I 
really appreciate the effort.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and 
appreciate those remarks. That is an important perspective.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Baird), a gentleman who also knows quite a bit about sacrificial 
service to the country and our communities.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to show my support for our men 
and women in law enforcement.
  Unfortunately, there is a growing movement across this country that 
is trying to defund police departments and disparage the character of 
all of our police officers. This movement is having deadly consequences 
on our communities.
  We are starting to see what happens when we defund the police. For 
the first time in decades, violent crime is rising in the United 
States. Major American cities saw a 33 percent increase in homicides in 
2020. Many of these cities took the advice from radicals and slashed 
their police departments, with the ultimate goal of defunding them.
  These reckless decisions didn't make our communities safer. Instead, 
it only empowered criminals and put those most vulnerable in harm's 
way.
  All Americans want bad police officers to be held accountable, but 
all Americans also want to be safe in their own communities. Police 
officers risk their lives every day to try to make that a reality. 
Congress should focus on making sure our police departments have the 
resources they need to keep criminals off the street while implementing 
the needed reforms to hold accountable bad officers.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Baird. I 
appreciate those comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Kim).
  Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Louisiana for hosting this Special Order tonight.
  As we celebrate National Police Week, I would like to also add my 
voice to recognizing the brave men and women who put their lives on the 
line to keep our communities safe across California's 39th District and 
beyond. We also honor those who have paid the ultimate price in the 
line of duty.
  I am proud to support our law enforcement and their important hard 
work that they do each and every day. From Captain Steven Tousey and 
Deputy Louis Denver with the Walnut Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station in 
Los Angeles County, who I rode along with, by the way, last week, to 
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and their hardworking team, I am 
always talking to our law enforcement across Los Angeles, Orange, and 
San Bernardino Counties about how I can help make sure that they have 
the support and resources needed to perform their demanding jobs and to 
learn how I, in Congress, can support our police officers.
  I would also like to recognize the men and women of our Capitol 
Police here in Congress who put their lives on the line to protect not 
only the Members of Congress but our staffs and all the House staff 
behind the scenes who make this place run. We are so grateful for you 
and appreciate each and every one of you.
  This National Police Week, I encourage all of us to take the time to 
thank a police officer in your area. It is because of our police 
officers that we can live our daily lives each and every day knowing 
that we are kept safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be standing here and back the blue.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Kim. You are so 
right that we need to back the blue, and I am so grateful to be joined 
by so many colleagues that share that sentiment.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach), another freshman who has made a real mark 
here on Capitol Hill and who is very passionate about this issue as 
well.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding to me 
on this important Special Order on National Police Week.
  Mr. Speaker, it is National Police Week, and I rise today to join my 
colleagues in support of the men and women of law enforcement.
  We ask law enforcement to do an impossible job, and they do it with 
professionalism, compassion, and grace. Their days are spent putting 
themselves in harm's way to keep us safe, and they are always on call. 
For that alone, they deserve our gratitude.
  But the men and women of law enforcement do so much more, and I want 
them to know that there are many of us who are not afraid to stand up 
and say that we support you. We see the sacrifices you make and the 
good that you do. We see the time that you spend away from your family 
and the emotional toll the job takes on you.
  I think of my many friends and family who are police officers and the 
hard work that they do. They will always have a special place in my 
heart.
  Even as the profession faces unprecedented scrutiny, the men and 
women of law enforcement still do their jobs with pride because, for 
them, it is about more than just a paycheck. It is about serving their 
neighbors.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting, not defunding, law 
enforcement. Let's take care of those who take care of us. Together, 
let's work on making our communities better.
  To the men and women of law enforcement in Minnesota and around the 
country, thank you.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Fischbach. That 
is an important perspective from the great State of Minnesota.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Murphy).
  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today, we celebrate 
National Police Week. After the year our police officers have endured, 
where radical activists sought to defund them, even with asinine 
proposals to abolish them, it has never been more important to show our 
appreciation to them.
  For months, we have heard anti-American activists, and even some of 
our colleagues, tell us that the act of policing is inherently evil and 
unfixable. But, Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth.
  Last year alone, 264 police officers from across this country gave 
their lives while protecting their communities. Throughout it all, the 
overwhelming majority of police officers are good men and women who 
have stepped up for their communities and built mutual trust that is 
vital to them doing their jobs.
  Sure, there are bad apples out there. I am a physician. We have bad 
apples in medicine, but we don't seek to abolish doctors or the 
practice of medicine.
  Nobody dislikes bad officers more than good officers because they 
give the good officers a bad reputation. Ninety-nine percent of police 
officers do their jobs with fairness, integrity,

[[Page H2259]]

and honor and should not be lumped in with the few officers that 
disgrace their profession.
  On the whole, police officers have done the best they can to defend 
their communities over this past year. For their thanks, 23 American 
cities have cut their budgets. Unsurprisingly, this has contributed to 
the biggest crime wave of the 21st century, making their jobs even 
harder and destroying decades of progress.
  For instance, New York defunded their police by $1 billion. The 
result is a 97 percent increase in shootings and a 45 percent increase 
in homicides, especially crime in minority communities.
  Make no mistake, these horrifying statistics can be traced directly 
back to defunding the police. If it can happen to this legendary police 
department in the country, the NYPD, it can happen anywhere, in your 
neighborhood also.
  In reality, we should be investing more in our police. The job of a 
police officer is an incredibly difficult one. They are often asked to 
make split-second decisions, which have enormous consequences. This is 
why we should be providing them with more resources and training rather 
than demonizing them.

  I, along with my fellow Republican colleagues, will continue to stand 
by the men and women in blue who faithfully and sacrificially serve 
their communities and keep our families safe.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for those 
important words. You are exactly right. They need to be better funded 
and given greater resources and greater training, and we support that 
because we back the blue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), 
a dear friend who certainly shares that sentiment.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, service to our Nation comes in many forms, 
but none is more foundational to upholding our laws and protecting our 
communities than the service of America's men and women in blue.
  On the surface, celebrating National Police Week means taking a 
moment to thank police officers for their service.
  Looking deeper, National Police Week gives each of us a chance to 
reflect on the critical role that law enforcement plays in our society 
and to reaffirm our commitment to their important work.
  Respect for law and order is necessary to build a strong community. 
Our vision forward increases funding for law enforcement to improve 
education and ensure police have the tools to keep themselves and their 
communities safe.

                              {time}  1845

  Now more than ever, we must stand united in our fight against 
Washington Democrats' radical calls to defund our police. This rhetoric 
is dangerous and has real consequences on the safety of officers 
everywhere.
  Tragically, more officers have been killed in 2021 than in the past 2 
years combined. Every officer who puts on that uniform does so at great 
risk to themselves. They run toward dangerous situations and, by their 
courage, ensure the protection of those whom they serve. Many make the 
ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.
  For these reasons, and so many more, our Nation owes these heroes a 
debt of gratitude. This National Police Week, know that we salute 
police officers, not just today but every day. We are with them, and we 
are grateful for all they do to keep us safe.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. May I inquire as to how much time is 
remaining, Mr. Speaker?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 23 minutes remaining.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
the First District of the great State of Alabama (Mr. Carl).
  Mr. CARL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise on this year's National Police Week to recognize 
the brave men and women in law enforcement all over the country, as 
well as honoring the many police officers who have lost their lives in 
the line of duty. While some folks around this country and across the 
aisle are calling for defunding and debanding the police department, I 
am proud to be a strong supporter of our law enforcement, and I will 
always back the blue.
  Nothing was more obvious than this last week and a half when I was 
with the Border Patrol. We have got to put more money into our law 
enforcement. We are choking them down. We have got to get them more 
resources. Now more than ever, police officers are in need of 
increasing resources as well as increasing support from our communities 
that they serve.
  Police officers are willing. They choose an incredible and tough job 
with long hours and not enough pay, so it is critical for us to give 
them support and the respect that they deserve. I will continue doing 
all I can do to support law enforcement in south Alabama and all over 
the country. I encourage all my colleagues to support and fully fund 
the police.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from the 
great State of Alabama for his remarks. Indeed, these are concerns that 
we share from coast to coast. We will go back up to the great State of 
New York and hear from my friend who is a legislator and former 
Secretary of State.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the State of New York (Mr. 
Jacobs).
  Mr. JACOBS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support and gratitude for the members of law enforcement bravely 
serving my home in western New York and around the Nation.
  This National Police Week gives us all a chance to pause and 
appreciate the dangerous, selfless, and, unfortunately, sometimes 
thankless job our police officers do. But we should not only honor them 
1 week every year, we must continually show our support by resisting 
any and all attempts to defund our police.
  Every day, our police officers wake up, put on a uniform, and go out 
into the communities that they serve to protect us not knowing if they 
will return home to their families that evening. They continually put 
their lives on the line.
  I recently was humbled to honor numerous officers in my home of 
Orchard Park, New York, and Lancaster, New York, who rescued residents 
from burning buildings and brush fires while they were off duty.
  We need police, and we need more young people to seek out a career 
serving their communities in law enforcement. Unfortunately, the recent 
stereotyping of police over the last year has been a severe deterrent 
to new members joining and also caused massive retirements of existing 
law enforcement, making all our communities less safe.
  The assault from the left on our police must come to an end. It is 
imperative that we properly fund, equip, and support law enforcement on 
the local, State, and Federal level.
  To conclude, our police are heroes and deserve to be honored as such. 
I join my colleagues in thanking them this week for their bravery and 
their service.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
perspective from New York. We will go from coast to coast out West back 
to California.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Eighth District of 
California (Mr. Obernolte).
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my colleague from 
Louisiana, for yielding.
  I am honored to join in helping to celebrate National Police Week 
where we take a moment out of our lives to honor the commitment and the 
sacrifice of the men in blue and the men and women in uniform who help 
keep our communities safe.
  I represent one of the largest districts in the United States, and, 
certainly, the largest district in California. It is very challenging 
to police, and my constituents rely on the abilities of the police to 
uphold the rule of law and to keep them safe in a very rural setting.
  Our law enforcement agencies in California's Eighth District have 
done a tremendous job of this. Just this year, the San Bernardino 
County Police Department and Sheriff's Department have seized over 100 
pounds of fentanyl. That is over half a million pills that they have 
kept off the street.

[[Page H2260]]

They have also helped, just this year, 19 adults and four children 
escape the evil scourge of human trafficking.
  In Inyo County, the Inyo County Sheriff's Department recently held an 
event in which they reclaimed almost 200 pounds of unused prescription 
medication, keeping those toxic substances out of our landfill and out 
of our water supply.

  In Mono County, the Mono County Sheriff's Department recently 
implemented a 911 text to 911 system that will help the residents of 
Inyo County reach law enforcement services when they need it. If you 
know that county, Mr. Speaker, then you know how rural it is and how 
much those community constituents depend on a responsive police force.
  I know there has been a lot of discussion in this body and in 
legislatures across the country about police reform this year. What I 
wish that all of our constituents knew is that there is broad, 
bipartisan agreement on 90 percent of that legislation. We can solve 
this problem in a way that implements police reform, but at the same 
time, respecting the role that our law enforcement members fill in 
serving our community that provides them the training and the resources 
that they need to do their jobs, and that honors the role that they 
play in protecting our communities.
  So happy National Police Week, and I thank our men and women in 
uniform.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for those 
comments.
  Mrs. Lesko is another good friend and colleague. We trust her voice 
on so many things. Nothing highlights the need for law and order more 
than the current crisis at the border created by the Biden 
administration. She has seen this firsthand as she represents Arizona.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko).
  Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson for yielding.
  For the past year, we have heard dangerous calls to disband, defund, 
and dismantle the police.
  Guess what?
  Since then, dangerous crimes have skyrocketed.
  Is it any wonder?
  We have also seen a rising number of police officers killed or 
wounded in the line of duty. This is totally unacceptable, and the 
effort to vilify the police is to blame.
  Our Nation's police officers are brave and hardworking men and women 
who put themselves on the front line each and every day to protect us 
and my constituents. These officers deserve to go home to their 
families at the end of the day.
  I am grateful for the sacrifices of our law enforcement officers in 
Arizona and throughout the entire Nation. Both, during the National 
Police Week and every single day, I will support our law enforcement 
and defend the police.
  The vilification of our police officers is having a terrible effect 
in our communities. I have talked to police chiefs who are having a 
difficult time even hiring police officers, and this push in some of 
the legislation that we passed here in this very own House to take away 
qualified immunity from the police so that anybody can sue them 
personally is wrong.
  I will continue to stand up for the police, I will continue to stand 
up for the public, and I will continue to stand up for public safety.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
Arizona for her remarks. We will stand up for the police.
  Mr. Speaker, you have heard many comments and similar sentiments here 
tonight. It has been echoed over and over.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to one more of my colleagues who is from the 
Sixth District of the great State of Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I stand to honor our policemen and -women 
on National Police Week. Few things in this job are more illuminating 
than doing a ride-along with local law enforcement, and I strongly 
suggest to those people out there who think we have to change the laws 
to harm the police, contact their local police or sheriff's department, 
do a ride-along, and find out what their job is really like.
  The week should be uncontroversial except for recently ambitious 
politicians have decided to get reelected by tearing down the police. 
Black Lives Matter, an organization founded by a Marxist, attacks the 
police for racism. I ran across a local schoolteacher educating his 
students that police are racists. The Democratic Party passed a bill 
out of this House making it easier to sue a police officer.
  This is one of the strange situations in which the crisis politicians 
talking about is actually going in the opposite direction. I picked 
some statistics I could find at random. In 1971, 50 years ago, New York 
had 93 people killed by the police. Up until 1996, it was rarely under 
20 people a year. Now it is rarely over 10 people a year who are killed 
by the police. There are reports on a study of people who died in the 
30 largest cities in the United States. There has been a 37 percent 
reduction in police shootings leading to deaths.
  Harvard economist Roland Fryer reports police are 47 percent less 
likely to discharge a weapon when attacked by a Black man, and Heather 
Mac Donald in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 
reports that if there is a bias in police shootings after crime rates 
are taken into account, it is against White civilians.
  The wholesale antipolice hysteria has dramatically increased 
homicides in Milwaukee and other big cities as the police become more 
passive. Wake up, America. Familiarize yourself with the statistics, 
and stand up to the politicians who are riding antipolice hatred to 
reelection.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Those are strong words, and they are 
accurate. People have politicized this issue, and it is turning them 
against law enforcement, and it is a terrible, terrible situation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Sixth District of the 
great State of Tennessee (Mr. Rose).
  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the incredibly brave 
patriots who keep America safe. This National Police Week, I want to 
share my profound appreciation to members of our law enforcement 
community, our officers, deputies, and troopers, and especially those 
law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty 
for the safety and protection of others.
  America is the land of opportunity because we are a nation of laws. 
For our Nation to remain strong, we must have law and order.
  Low morale is permeating police departments across our Nation as 
rioters and lawbreakers repeatedly vilify, demonize, and verbally 
attack the thin blue line. I will tell you here today: any violence 
against law enforcement must end, and it must end now.
  Fair treatment in the justice system is critical, but it will not be 
achieved by the defund the police movement and cop-free zones. 
Lawlessness without police equals crime and the destruction of our 
Republic.
  In my State, Tennesseans know that the men and women who serve in law 
enforcement are some of the best people in our communities. They run 
towards danger, never away, and they risk their lives to protect us and 
our families. Those who serve in law enforcement deserve the respect of 
every citizen every day.
  I thank our law enforcement officers for what they do every day, and 
this National Police Week we respect, honor, and remember those we have 
lost.

                              {time}  1900

  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield to the 
gentleman from the Third District of the great State of Texas (Mr. 
Taylor).
  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for 
yielding.
  I often brag to my congressional colleagues that I hope one day 
America could be like the Third District of Texas. It is a truly 
magnificent county, Collin County. One of the many factors that has led 
to the success of our community is the hardworking police officers who 
undoubtedly have played a significant role.
  This National Police Week, we remember those officers who have made 
the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
  I am proud to recognize the Collin County police officers who risk 
their own lives and well-being to make our

[[Page H2261]]

communities some of the very safest in the Nation. In fact, the cities 
of Frisco, McKinney, and Plano, all located in Collin County, were 
named three of the top 10 safest cities in America.
  This is a true testament to how well members of our community, 
families, neighbors, small business owners, nonprofits, and local 
officials collaborate with police departments to ensure Collin County 
remains one of the very best places in America to live, work, and raise 
a family.
  Let this National Police Week serve as a reminder that, in times of 
disaster or crisis, police officers are the ones who run toward the 
danger. Our brave officers go above and beyond to protect our 
communities, and I can never thank them enough.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Texas for those great words.
  I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez), a very important 
voice and someone who has been on the front lines of community service, 
a first responder, a fire chief, which is my favorite previous job of 
his, although he has been a mayor as well.
  Mr. GIMENEZ. Mr. Speaker, this week, we honor our incredible law 
enforcement officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. 
At a moment when some Americans have lost confidence in our country's 
institutions, we must come together to forge a new path of unity and 
purpose by addressing every injustice while acknowledging the positive 
actions of our police officers.
  This week, I cosponsored the JUSTICE Act to provide needed police 
reform to help ensure positive, fair policing. This legislation helps 
ensure law enforcement agencies and officers are kept safe.
  I know firsthand the importance of body cameras, not only for 
accountability, but also for the safety of every law enforcement 
officer. As mayor of Miami-Dade County, I was one of the first in the 
country to implement a program putting body cameras on our police 
officers. This legislation will help replicate what we did in Miami-
Dade County across the country by providing $500 million for State and 
local law enforcement agencies to equip officers with body cameras.
  Police officers deserve to know we have their backs. Their commitment 
to their communities, their willingness to put their lives on the line 
to keep our children and grandchildren safe, must be commended and not 
attacked. It is time to step up and give our police officers the 
support they deserve.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. I thank the gentleman for that voice of 
authority on the issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been honored to be joined on the floor by so many 
colleagues from around the country tonight to honor our law enforcement 
officers this National Police Week.
  I was sitting here as I was listening to the speeches tonight, and I 
was reminded, as we always are as we sit on this floor of the people's 
House, of the words that are inscribed right above your head there, our 
Nation's great motto, In God We Trust.
  We are a Nation under God, as we know, and millions of Americans find 
daily inspiration in the Word of God. On National Police Week, it is 
appropriate to note that we find there a useful reminder about the 
noble calling of those who serve our communities so bravely. Indeed, it 
is a divine calling, and I think those who are calling for the 
defunding and the disrespect of our police need to remember that it was 
God himself who ordained that authority.
  In the 13th chapter of the book of Romans, it is subtitled Submission 
to Governing Authorities. I just want to read that in closing tonight, 
Mr. Speaker. It begins in verse 1 of Chapter 13:

       Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for 
     there is no authority except that which God himself has 
     established. The authorities that exist have been established 
     by God.
       Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is 
     rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do 
     so will bring judgment on themselves.
       For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for 
     those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the 
     one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be 
     commended.
       For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. 
     But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the 
     sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath 
     to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
       Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, 
     not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter 
     of conscience.
       This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are 
     God's servants who give their full time to governing.
       Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay 
     taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if 
     honor, then honor.

  Mr. Speaker, I conclude tonight with that admonition, that we give 
honor where honor is due. That is what National Police Week is about.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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