[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 29, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3249-H3250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DEFEND NOT DEFUND THE POLICE

  (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, crime rates spike when you give in to 
leftist demands and defund the police. It is as simple as that. Sadly, 
we are seeing this play out in major cities across the country.
  The New York Times reports a sample of 37 U.S. cities saw an 18 
percent increase in murders in the first 3 months of this year when 
compared to last.
  Mr. Speaker, this rhetoric and policy is dangerous and, worst of all, 
it is responsible for the dismantling and demoralization of police 
departments across the country.
  We have also seen the dramatic increase on a tax against law 
enforcement this year. Tragically, two of my constituents are among 
those who have recently been killed in the line of duty. We must have 
law and order and support our heroes who place their lives on the line 
to keep our communities safe.

[[Page H3250]]

  In short, we must defend, not defund, the police.

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