[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SKYROCKETING VIOLENT CRIME

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, in large cities across America, violent 
crime rates are skyrocketing. At the same time, many of our Democrat 
colleagues are leading dangerous calls to defund the police and take 
cops off the streets.
  I can't believe this needs to be said, but demonizing law enforcement 
will not make our streets safer. This kind of rhetoric makes it more 
difficult for police officers to do their jobs and harder for local 
departments to attract new officers.
  Just look at the cities which are experiencing the largest spikes in 
violent crime. Homicides are up 533 percent in Portland, 58 percent in 
Atlanta, 37 percent in Philadelphia, and 22 percent in Los Angeles. 
Each of these cities has embraced the same antipolice rhetoric that we 
have heard from Democrats in this very Chamber. Now, in a bizarre twist 
of logic, Democrats are trying to shift the blame to Republicans.
  The only way to solve this problem is to reestablish respect for law 
enforcement and make sure they have the support and resources needed to 
protect themselves and our communities.

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