[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1006-H1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BACK THE BLUE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 4, 2021, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to show an army of
congressional leaders who back the blue. I rise to show our colleagues
on the other side of the aisle and Americans across the country that we
won't back down when it comes to supporting our men and women in
uniform.
Since my time in Congress began just over 1 year ago, I have made it
my mission to show not just in words but also in action that our LEOs
across the country have a thin blue line army that won't back down,
that won't quit, and that will always have their six.
Today, we rise to honor the heroes in our midst, the everyday public
servants who get up daily to don the badge, run into harm's way, moving
towards danger and working hard to keep us all safe.
Amid efforts to defund our police, leading to a rise in crime with no
response from elected officials nationwide or from this administration;
amid phony bail reform efforts that do nothing to keep dangerous
criminals behind bars; amid an opioid crisis with record levels of
drugs pouring into our communities, perpetuated by the crisis at our
southern border--because we all know that you cannot defend your
hometowns if you cannot protect the homeland--amid dangerous rhetoric
spread by the ill-informed; amid increasing levels of vitriol for this
profession, these real heroes, well, they show up.
{time} 2100
Madam Speaker, I stood on this floor in March of last year as my
Democrat colleagues passed a bill to defund police. They defunded
police. Now, that night, I challenged my colleagues across the aisle to
a ride-along. Not a single one--not one--took me up on my offer.
Instead, my team and I set out to do the ride-alongs that my
colleagues would not. And wow, did we learn a lot. Whether it was
domestic violence, robbery, battery, violent brawls, drunk drivers,
drug busts--everything in between--these ride-alongs proved it. These
men and women who wear the badge, they are amazing. They are imperfect
beings doing the toughest of jobs with the best of intentions. They are
criticized, demonized, and vilified, and yet, they continue to answer
the call in the face of it all.
Madam Speaker, 2021 was the deadliest year on record for members of
the law enforcement community--the deadliest. Next to me, you see the
names of all those that we lost. You probably can't see the names very
well or even care to read them. There is 458 of them--the poster isn't
even big enough to accommodate all of the names. That is 458 families
shattered forever. That is 458 departments forever changed. That is 458
lives lost.
As the wife of a first responder, I know all too well that feeling of
twists and turns and pain that comes when a SWAT callout has come out.
I know what it is like to sit at the kitchen table and wait for the
call, the text letting me know that the callout is over and that my
husband is on his way back to the department or to the station.
I know what it is like, and that is perhaps why I stand here today
more resolved than ever to stand in defense and in support of those who
protect and serve every day. To the spouses of our men and women in law
enforcement, know that you have a friend and sister in this fight. Know
that your service alongside your partner is just as valuable and
important to all those across the country. Whether you call yourself a
deputy or an officer, an LEO spouse or family member, the message is
simple: My colleagues and I, we see you, we hear you, we support you,
and we will always have your six.
To those who seek to divide, defund, and disparage, know that every
attempt that you make to hurt our LEOs and defund our departments, it
will only be in vain. Your efforts to make our communities less safe
will fail. Your efforts to hurt our families will falter. My colleagues
and I, we will make sure of it.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the
brave men and women who are serving in law enforcement, who protect our
communities, and keep our streets safe.
As a former law enforcement for 23 years, I know the sacrifices made
by them and their families. Every day, law enforcement officers walk
out of their homes leaving their loved ones behind, and put their own
lives on the line for the safety and security of others. They don't get
to choose which call for service they go on. The dangers they face
every day while keeping us safe are all too real.
Instead of showing gratitude for their service, dedication, and
sacrifice, far too many people are using defund and disrespect the
police rhetoric that is leading to violence against the men and women
in blue and brown. In fact, more police officers have been killed in
the line of duty under President Biden's leadership than in previous
years. It is no secret that morale in the law enforcement community is
low, and many dedicated officers are leaving the force.
Police departments across the country are struggling to fill
vacancies and crime rates, which have risen. This is a direct result of
the demonization and vilification of the profession by some political
leaders to score political points. The men and women serving in local
law enforcement deserve our respect and support. They are the last line
of defense and the protectors of our communities. I am so honored to
have served alongside some of these brave men and women.
We must be vocal in expressing our support for our local law
enforcement during these times. We must make the same commitment to
them as they have committed to our friends, our families, and our
communities. It is the least that we can do for them and their
families. I am happy to stand here today, along with so many of my
colleagues, to show support.
Unlike my Democrat colleagues, Republicans don't need election year
polling to stand with law enforcement who keep our communities safe.
Minnesotans and all Americans deserve to live in safe communities, and
I will continue to work to ensure this is our shared reality. We all
owe them our thanks.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman and my friend and
colleague from the great State of Minnesota.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my
friend and colleague.
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida, Mrs.
Cammack, for having this and honoring law enforcement in this Special
Order.
Madam Speaker, the surge and violence across the country and the
targeted attacks on our brave law enforcement officers are happening
thanks to the Democrats' relentless calls to defund the police.
The left has brazenly stripped the police departments of necessary
funding and enacted new laws that actually ensure that violent
criminals have the freedom to inflict more harm. To be clear, violent
criminals are being released on little to no bail only to kill again.
[[Page H1007]]
This is the Democrats' America. These shameful and purely political
policies put criminals above law-abiding citizens. Our law enforcement
officials should be respected and honored for their role in keeping us
safe.
Tonight, I want to highlight one such individual, Tyler County
native, growing up in Spurger, Texas, Texas Ranger, Joe Haralson, from
my county, Tyler County, Texas.
Joe was an Army infantryman during the Vietnam war and earned the
Bronze Star and Air Medal, with Oak Leaf Clusters for both, for his
heroic service. Less than a year after returning home in Vietnam from
1971, Joe enrolled himself in the Department of Public Safety's 18-week
training academy in Austin, Texas. After a decade of hard work as a DPS
officer, Joe finally received his Texas Ranger badge.
This year marks Joe's 41st year with the Texas Rangers. He is the
longest serving Texas Ranger in Texas' illustrious history, and what a
hero he is. He has served his fellow Texans for more than half a
century, and his time in law enforcement is nothing short of amazing
and inspiring.
Over the decades, Joe has worked on cases involving murders,
robberies, kidnappings, rapes, and much more. He has seen the face of
evil countless times, yet is one of the humblest and kindness men that
you will ever meet.
It is a privilege to have this American patriot as a friend, share
his story, express my sincerest gratitude for his devotion to our
community and to our State of Texas. These are the heroes that radical
Democrats have abandoned, but I never will.
God bless you, Joe.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the great
State of Texas. I am proud to call him friend. Thank you for honoring
this incredible patriot.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez),
my friend and colleague from the Sunshine State.
Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, the woke left have stood idly by as rabid criminals
have embarked on an all-out assault on our police officers. Rather than
standing up for the brave men and women of law enforcement--the very
ones who put their lives on the line every day to keep our families and
communities safe--they have bent over backwards to the most radical
fringes of the progressive movement that actively works to defund,
disarm, and disband our police departments.
The result? Under Joe Biden's first year as President, police
officers have seen a historic spike in violent crime against them.
In 2021 alone, there were 346 officers shot in the line of duty
resulting in 63 deaths.
Police officers were victims to 103 ambush-style attacks, which
increased 115 percent over the prior year.
The FBI reported a 48.7 increase in 2021 of officers' killings, both
on-duty and off-duty, totaling 73 deaths from firearms, vehicles,
knives, and other personal weapons. Believe it or not, those numbers
represent the highest number of law enforcement officers who were
intentionally killed since the terror attacks of September 11.
Last week, House Homeland Security Committee Republicans stood up to
demand the Department of Justice open a Federal investigation into
these egregious spikes in crime against our police officers.
{time} 2110
President Biden, his administration, and the Democrats who maintain a
stranglehold on Congress must find the courage to break with the
radical liberals who want to defund, disarm, and disband our police and
show up with unprecedented support for our officers in blue.
I, for one, am proud to back the blue. Thank you to our officers for
all the work and your sacrifices. Know that the Republicans in this
Chamber stand with you and have your back.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the
Sunshine State.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko), my
friend and colleague.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague on
the Homeland Security Committee for holding this important Special
Order to let law enforcement officers all over the United States know
this simple truth: We support you, and we have your back.
For over 20 years, I served as an organized crime prosecutor on the
Federal level, focusing on narcotics, gang, and corruption
prosecutions, among many others, in central New York, along the
southwest border, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, all over the United
States, and all over the world.
I worked alongside incredible men and women in law enforcement every
day. They are some of the most courageous and selfless people I know,
and they put their lives on the line to protect our communities.
The officers I have worked with were assaulted. They were shot. Some
were killed. Yet, time and time again, the officers showed up every day
to do their jobs and dispatch their duties with honor and dignity,
despite not being paid anywhere near what they should.
Unfortunately, our brothers and sisters in law enforcement are
hurting right now. Violence against law enforcement officers has become
a troubling pattern across the United States, culminating most recently
in violent shooting deaths of officers in New York City and Houston.
Sadly, this violence is part of an upward national trend.
According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, in 2021, there
were 346 officers shot in the line of duty, and 103 were ambush-style
attacks, which increased 115 percent over the prior year. Tragically,
73 officers were killed. According to the data from the FBI, this
accounts for a 50 percent increase.
These grim statistics represent the highest number of law enforcement
who were intentionally killed since the terror attacks of September 11,
2001.
As ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee and chair of the
American Security Task Force, I have heard directly from law
enforcement officers about the challenges police departments face as
crimes continue to rise. I have traveled across the country where the
effects of the defund the police and go against the police movements
are at their worst.
In New York City, for example, the department was cut by close to $1
billion in 2020. In 2021, it broke the State record for annual
homicides. They cut cops. They cut shifts. They passed laws in New York
State that made it very difficult for officers to do their jobs and
made it very easy for violent criminals to get back on the streets.
In Portland, Oregon, a center for the defund the police movement,
homicides are up 530 percent. That was because they cut their police
department by 10 percent and eliminated the violent crime unit. Of
course, that is going to happen. The increase in crime, coupled with
recruitment and retention problems, will only compound the crime
problems this country is currently facing.
Instead of vilifying police, let's figure out how to make police
departments better by investing in them. How can you possibly retrain
police when you defund them? How can you implement new policies and get
officers ready for those new policies when you cut their funding? It
doesn't work.
Today, we are facing troubling new challenges. Our law enforcement
officers are being asked to do more with less, and it is putting their
lives at risk. In addition to their crime-fighting responsibilities,
our officers are on the front lines, facing the threat of terrorism and
an unprecedented opioid epidemic.
Homeland security is being degraded because defunded police and
vilified police departments do not have sufficient resources for
counterterrorism operations.
It takes courage to wear a badge. It takes even more courage to
respond to an emergency, to engage a suspect, to walk down a dark
alley, or to confront a terrorist. For law enforcement, that is part of
their job every single day.
My committee and the task force are proud to stand with law
enforcement as they continue to do this honorable work. I will always
have their backs, and they will always have my thanks and admiration.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the
ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Rutherford), my friend and colleague.
[[Page H1008]]
Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the men and women in law
enforcement who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. In return,
Congress owes it to them to do everything in our power to keep them
safe.
As many of you know, I spent over 40 years in law enforcement,
including 12 years as sheriff of Duval County, Florida. Sadly, some of
my friends and colleagues paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
In fact, our memorial wall is filled with the names of too many good
police officers who laid down their lives in service to their
community.
When you are called to policing, you know the undertaking that you
are taking is a dangerous job. This growing antipolice rhetoric and
widespread efforts to defund police departments are leaving officers
increasingly at risk to attacks, and communities are less safe.
In 2022, 89 officers around the country lost their lives to gunfire,
beatings, stabbing, or vehicular assault, officers like Nassau County
Deputy Joshua Moyers, who was killed last year in an attack while
conducting a traffic stop in northeast Florida.
So, what are we doing in Congress to help stop these attacks? I have
introduced a bipartisan bill called the Protect and Serve Act, which
would increase penalties for individuals who deliberately target law
enforcement officers with violence. In 2018, the Protect and Serve Act
overwhelmingly passed the House 382-35.
I urge my Democrat colleagues to come back to the table and support
this important legislation. Police officers' lives depend on it.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Sheriff
Rutherford.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a
champion for our law enforcement.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for the
recognition. She does a great job for the Congress, and we are all so
grateful to have her here.
Madam Speaker, this is such an important topic tonight. Ranking
Member Katko delineated the number of law enforcement jurisdictions who
have seen funding cut and the unfortunate consequences that occurred on
the populations that they serve. Did you ever stop to think of what
would happen if there were just an absolute defunding of the police
department?
Well, unfortunately, we only need to look about a hundred years past
to see such an example. It happened in Boston, Massachusetts, in
September 1919. The police force was unfunded, and the city was
unprotected. This was documented in a book by a gentleman named Francis
Russell. The book is called ``A City in Terror.''
What was startling to me when I read the book was not that there was
a gradual descent into lawlessness, but it happened like turning a
switch. Police were not on the job. The city sunk into chaos--
robberies, beatings, assaults, looting. And it went on for several days
until the Governor of that State called up the National Guard and
reasserted authority.
Who was that Governor? It is kind of a rarity to stop and think about
it now, but it was a Republican Governor of Massachusetts named Calvin
Coolidge. It was that activity of restoring order in the city that
catapulted him to fame and caused him to receive the Vice Presidential
nomination in the Republican Convention of 1920. And as they say, the
rest is history.
Please, let us not forget our history. Defunding the police does not
lead us to a better place. It does not lead us to a more just and civil
society. It invites chaos.
{time} 2120
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Burgess for his steadfast
support for law enforcement.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline),
who is my friend and a supporter of law enforcement.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me
and for hosting this Special Order. I would be here to speak in support
of the men and women in law enforcement regardless.
Tonight, I come to the House floor to honor two local heroes:
Officers John Painter and J.J. Jefferson, who were killed in the line
of duty last week while responding to reports of a suspicious
individual at nearby Bridgewater College. Their funerals this week will
be overflowing with members of the community, the campus, law
enforcement, and members of government and civil officials, all of whom
loved these two heroes.
Officer John Painter dedicated his life to public service. Prior to
becoming a campus police officer at Bridgewater, Painter served in the
United States Air Force and the Army National Guard. He spent time as a
deputy sheriff in King George County, and he was a member of the
Grottoes Police Department for 18 years before retiring as chief in
2018.
Painter was known as a loving family man with a great loyalty to his
friends and community. Those who knew him say that his devotion to
others could not go unnoticed.
Like Officer Painter, Officer J.J. Jefferson committed his life to
protecting and serving others before coming to Bridgewater College in
2018. Jefferson began his law enforcement career in 1997 as a patrol
officer with the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office prior to spending 12
years as national reconnaissance officer in Chantilly, Virginia.
Jefferson then served as a sergeant with the Shenandoah University
Department of Public Safety during which time he was awarded the James
B. Wilkins Award for his proactive security initiatives. A veteran of
the United States Marine Corps, Jefferson is remembered for his
boisterous laugh and endearing smile.
Known as the dynamic duo, the two officers were the closest of
friends with Officer Painter even serving as the best man at
Jefferson's wedding.
Students describe the officers as family and said the pair ``really
cared about all of us--all of us.''
Painter and Jefferson made it a point to connect with those they were
tasked with protecting, embedding themselves into the community by
eating lunch with students, hanging out with them at campus gathering
spots, and offering words of wisdom to those they interacted with.
Officers Jefferson and Painter gave their lives to protect students
on campus, and our community is forever grateful for their sacrifice.
Their efforts surely prevented even greater loss of life, and the
dynamic duo's actions will never be forgotten.
The Bridgewater community mourns their tragic passing, and our
prayers remain with their families in this difficult time.
Tonight, we remember the words in John 15:13: No one has greater love
than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
Rest in peace, Officers Painter and Jefferson.
God bless.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield to my friend and colleague from
the Sunshine State of Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who is a champion for
law enforcement.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the brave men
and women who serve in law enforcement throughout our great Nation.
New statistics indicate that intentional killings of law enforcement
officers in 2021 reached a 20-year high--this is tragic--excluding 9/
11.
Tragically, two of those officers killed in the line of duty during
2021 have been my constituents: Deputy Michael Magli of the Pinellas
County Sheriff's Office and Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen of Tampa
Police Department. I went to the funeral services of those two heroes
and shared the anguish of their grieving families and colleagues.
Additionally, in 2014, Officer Charlie K. Kondek from my hometown of
Tarpon Springs, Florida, who was part of the Tarpon Springs Police
Department, was killed in the line of duty.
These fallen heroes leave behind a distinguished legacy of service
and sacrifice that deserves to be honored.
I am proud to cosponsor, along with my great friend, Kat Cammack,
from Gainesville, Florida--so we are Floridians and Florida Gators--the
Back the Blue Act and the Protect and Serve Act of 2021. Both of those
bills will increase the Federal penalties for crimes targeting members
of the law enforcement community and strengthen funding for programs to
improve relations
[[Page H1009]]
between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Law enforcement agencies around the country have faced undeserved
political attacks by the defund the police movement. This is
unacceptable as far as I am concerned. This is a dangerous and
destructive proposition and has only increased violence.
We should, in fact, be increasing support and funding for our law
enforcement. I respect the service and sacrifice of our first
responders and their families, and I will continue to do everything I
can to support them.
Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for having this Special Order
which is so very important. I appreciate it.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from the freedom
State, Florida, for his remarks.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), who
is the ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a fellow
patriot and ardent supporter of law enforcement.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend,
Congresswoman Kat Cammack from Florida, for her organization of this
Special Order tonight.
Madam Speaker, I know that these Special Orders go long, and I know
quite often the person who is sitting in the Speaker's chair quite
often focuses on whatever is going on on their cell phones, but I
really hope that you are paying attention tonight because my district
is right across from yours.
Last year, two families in my district received the call that every
law enforcement family just dreads--a call informing them that their
loved ones will not be returning home.
On August 4, Brooklyn, Illinois, Police Officer Brian Pierce Jr. was
deploying spike strips on a bridge during a car chase. He was hit and
fatally injured by the fleeing vehicle. Brian was only 24 years old.
On October 26, we lost Pontoon Beach, Illinois, Police Officer Tyler
Timmins. He was tragically killed while investigating a stolen vehicle
at a gas station. Tyler was only 36 years old, Madam Speaker, and a 14-
year veteran of the force. He left behind his wife, Linsey, whom he had
just married 1 month before as well as his daughter, Chloe.
Sadly, their families are not alone in their pain. In 2021, 73
officers were killed in the line of duty--the highest number in 26
years. The liberals at the Federal law level, at the State level, and
at the local level push to defund police, Madam Speaker. I want you to
understand that that agenda has made our communities less safe.
Even in the State of Illinois on a lame-duck session in the middle of
the night they passed the bill that made it to where we defunded police
and endangered our police officers. Their rhetoric has emboldened
criminals, putting our brave officers' lives in danger.
Despite it all, our police officers continue to show up and run
towards the danger to protect our communities every day, even if they
are being shot at.
Madam Speaker, do you know why this is so personal to me?
My son-in-law is a deputy sheriff in Jackson County, Illinois.
This issue is personal to me and my family.
Why?
Because I see the crap he sees every day. But I know that he is doing
it because he cares about those who need help.
I will always stand for our men and women of law enforcement and will
do all that I can to ensure they get the support that they deserve. I
only wish that all of my colleagues would join in with me to do that
and stop spreading the rhetoric of defunding police.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from the great
State of Illinois for his impassioned and accurate remarks.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of
Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), who is my good friend.
Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Kat for holding this very
Special Order tonight.
I rise today to honor our police officers and to condemn those who
shamefully unleash defund the police rhetoric into our communities.
Next to me are the images of nearly 90 police officers who were killed
in the line of duty just last year.
{time} 2130
There are so many lives lost that I had to make three separate
posters. These courageous men and women lost their lives by being shot,
assaulted, stabbed, or hit by cars.
Sadly, America has seen a 115 percent increase in ambush attacks on
our police officers. There is no doubt in my mind that liberal hatred
and vitriol against law enforcement played a role in the uptick of the
attacks on our officers. It is clear: Rhetoric has consequences.
The faces on these pages are fathers and mothers, loved ones. One of
them was a fellow Missourian. Last year, Police Officer Blaize Madrid-
Evans of Independence, Missouri, lost his life while responding to a
call when a criminal opened fire and killed him. Blaize was only 22
years old, and he was engaged to be married. He had his whole life
ahead of him. This is tragic. This is unacceptable. Things must change.
Our law enforcement officers deserve our respect, support, and
thanks. Nothing else.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington
(Mr. Newhouse), my friend and colleague, a champion for our law
enforcement officers.
Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mrs. Cammack very much for
yielding. I am proud to join my colleagues and rise today in honor of
the brave men and women in blue who serve and protect us each and every
day.
According to new statistics released by the FBI, intentional killings
of law enforcement in 2021 were the highest in 20 years. Every day
police officers across central Washington, as well as the United
States, put on a badge and go to work knowing that they may face
extremely dangerous situations, exacerbated by significant economic
uncertainties, open border policies, and the raging opioid crisis.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these individuals who risk their lives
to enforce the law and protect our communities. Law enforcement
officers take time away from their families and their loved ones, often
without the thanks that they deserve and often putting themselves in
harm's way.
Before I highlight some of our officers who are currently serving the
great State of Washington, I would like to ask for a moment of silence
for the victims of today's tragic shooting in Richland, Washington, and
the officers who are currently investigating that incident.
Trooper David Brandt of the Tri-Cities was selected as the 2020
Washington State Trooper of the Year. Trooper Brandt not only
demonstrates a strong commitment to law enforcement, but takes the time
to personally connect with his community; from reading books to
schoolchildren to conducting safety classes for women to delivering
meals to families in need.
King County Trooper Patoc also goes beyond above and beyond the line
of duty and just last year saved the life of a man on the brink of
committing suicide, who is now receiving the critical help that he
requires.
These officers are the kinds of heroes that we need, and they deserve
our utmost support and recognition. I also want to recognize some
officers whose lives were recently lost.
In just January of this year, we lost Trooper Robert LaMay of Yakima,
who served honorably for over two decades. In October of last year, we
lost Trooper Detective Eric Gunderson of Tacoma in the line of duty.
These and all of our fallen officers will not be forgotten.
I want to personally thank the police and sheriff's departments of
Washington State Patrol, and all of the officers who keep central
Washington's communities safe. Today and every day we offer our
appreciation and respect for law enforcement officers across the
Nation.
Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Mrs. Cammack, my friend, for
putting together this Special Order.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Newhouse for his
comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of
Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), a friend and colleague, and a champion for
our law enforcement.
[[Page H1010]]
Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for
organizing this Special Order, the important things for which we should
all be very passionate about.
Defunding the police is not just a Democrat slogan, it is a dangerous
policy that has been advocated by some Washington Democrats and is
having devastating consequences for the morale and safety of America's
law enforcement officers.
In 2021, 346 officers were shot, and ambush-style attacks increased
by 115 percent from 2020. Last month, we all watched as NYPD officers
lined the streets of Manhattan to honor two of their fallen brothers
who were shot and killed in the line of duty.
Criminal acts of violence against law enforcement are becoming all
too common. Despite this fact, Washington Democrats continue to call
for defunding the police, and stoke division between the public and the
heroes who keep us safe every day and sacrifice to do so.
Painting law enforcement out to be the bad guy doesn't make America
safer. It does exactly the opposite, and it only serves to embolden
more criminal behavior and lawlessness. Our officers protect us every
day and they need our support now more than ever.
I stand with law enforcement, and I stand for law and order. I thank
the gentlewoman from Florida for having this important Special Order.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Keller for his
comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Grothman), my friend and colleague.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Much of the police hatred that we get stems from horribly divisive
politicians like President Biden, who claim that Black children must be
taught to tolerate racist abuse from police just to make it home.
President Obama also had quotes encouraging police hatred by
screaming racism. Let's look at the facts as pointed out by Heather Mac
Donald in an excellent article in The Wall Street Journal. Sadly,
groups who are involved in crime are more likely to get in
confrontations with police. Fifty-three percent of homicide offenders
in America and 60 percent of robberies are committed by the same
demographic that Black Lives Matter purports to help. Study after study
after study analyzing the statistics shows no racism.
Other studies show that Black and Brown policemen are more likely to
shoot suspects than White officers, also inconsistent with the racial
narrative.
You might say why discuss this issue? Who cares if we lie and tear
down the police? I suggest that the Congressmen around here all make an
effort to do a ride-along with the police. See what great, selfless
human beings they are before you scream racism without cause.
Furthermore, police are human, and when you keep calling police
racists, I think sometimes police have a tendency to back off and
become less assertive. And that is one of the major reasons a big city
near me, the city of Milwaukee, for 2 years in a row we have had
massive, record numbers of homicides in the city. That is what happens
when the police become cowed and less effective.
It has resulted, I think, in dozens of murders in Milwaukee that
would not have happened without the racist antipolice groups. And by
groups, I point out, not only politicians, but the NFL has encouraged
police dislike with their Black Lives Matter support in the stadiums.
Stand up to the cheap politicians tearing down the police. Stand up to
the billionaires who own the NFL and fan the flames of anti-race
feelings, and stand with the police of America who are doing a
tremendous job.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the
great State of Wisconsin for his comments.
It is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde),
my friend and a champion for law enforcement.
Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Cammack for yielding.
Madam Speaker, our great Nation is blessed with dedicated law
enforcement officers who wake up every morning to maintain law and
order, keep communities safe, and answer the call when criminals
strike. Yet, their sacrifice has been met with radical calls from the
left to defund the police, and also horrific attacks from those people
who believe in defunding the police.
In 2021 alone, there were 346 officers shot in the line of duty,
including 63 tragic deaths. Additionally, there was almost a 50 percent
increase in police officer murders last year, totaling 73 deaths from
violent criminals who have no respect for law and order.
These startling statistics represent the highest number of law
enforcement officers who were murdered since the terror attacks of
September 11, 2001.
{time} 2140
This violence isn't just sequestered to major cities either. It is
happening all across the United States. Unfortunately, my home
district, Georgia's Ninth, a district that is primarily rural, knows
this harsh reality all too well.
Back in November of last year, Jackson County, my home county, lost
both a mother and a heroic police officer, Deputy Lena Marshall. After
responding to a domestic call that escalated to a violent shootout,
Deputy Marshall's life was taken while serving to keep Georgians safe.
Any act of criminal violence is an assault on justice, which is why
we must provide our brave men and women in blue with the community
support, the resources, and especially the political backing needed to
adequately respond to surging crime across our Nation.
Those in political office show both ignorance and cowardice when they
side with criminals and, thereby, undermine those who serve and
protect.
May God protect our courageous law enforcement officers who put their
lives on the line each and every day, and God bless the fallen heroes,
like Deputy Marshall, who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting
the communities they serve.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the
great State of Georgia for those words.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Murphy), my friend and colleague.
Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, over the last year, our
law enforcement officers have been faced with targeted attacks,
skyrocketing crime rates, and decimated budgets.
Madam Speaker, despite these challenges, our law enforcement officers
continue to protect and serve our communities with unwavering bravery,
sacrifice, and selflessness.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent so many incredible law
enforcement officers in eastern North Carolina, all of whom put
themselves at risk each day so that the rest of us can live in safe,
secure communities.
Madam Speaker, Deputy Zachary Bellingham, a former U.S. Marine and
deputy for the Craven County Sheriff's Office, in my district, is no
exception.
On October 21, 2021, Deputy Bellingham sustained life-threatening
injuries while performing a wellness check in New Bern, North Carolina,
when he was shot in the line of duty. Following his injuries, he was
taken to Carolina East Medical Center, airlifted to Greenville, and
received emergency surgery. He was then transferred to Shepherd's
Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, where he has shown strong
perseverance in his rehabilitation.
The conduct and actions of Deputy Bellingham embody the values of a
true American hero. Madam Speaker, his brave actions on that fateful
day highlight the very best of our law enforcement and all they do to
protect our communities. I am so relieved to know that Deputy
Bellingham is in good care and continuing his road to recovery.
After his injury, members of our community quickly rallied around
Deputy Bellingham, offering him well-wishes in support of his recovery.
His service, Madam Speaker, is one we all honor and appreciate, and I
am grateful to represent such a compassionate and caring community in
eastern North Carolina.
Madam Speaker, please join us in expressing our sincere gratitude to
not only this deputy but all law enforcement officers for their
commitment to keeping us and our families safe each and every day.
[[Page H1011]]
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Chabot), my friend and colleague and a champion of law enforcement.
Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs.
Cammack), for her leadership in putting together this Special Order
this evening to honor our local law enforcement officers. I can think
of few people more deserving of this honor than the men and women in
local law enforcement, as their daily acts of heroism, bravery, and
courage keep our communities safe.
Tonight, we have heard numerous examples of officers displaying acts
of heroism while in the line of duty. I would like to include a few
more from my district back in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Officers Tiffany Mountjoy and Chris Keene of the Franklin, Ohio,
Police Department, ran into a house engulfed in flames, without
protective gear, to save the life of an 82-year-old woman who was
trapped inside.
Cincinnati Police Officer Sonny Kim was shot and killed in the line
of duty by an individual whose apparent motive was to lure and murder
as many police officers as possible.
Colerain Township Police Officer Dale Woods was responding to a
traffic accident when he was hit by a truck. Officer Woods, a father of
three children, who had served the community with distinction for 15
years, died 3 days later.
Finally, one of most heroic occurrences by police officers in my
congressional district in recent memory took place a couple of years
back when Cincinnati police officers responded to an active shooter
situation in downtown Cincinnati at the Fifth Third Bank on Fountain
Square. Their quick actions saved the lives of countless civilians who
were in the building that day, whose lives probably would have been
lost but for their heroism.
According to the FBI, there were 73 law enforcement officers killed
in the line of duty last year by felonious homicide, meaning they were
killed with firearms, vehicles, knives, or assaults. That is nearly
twice as many as were killed in the line of duty the year before. Of
those, 32 officers were killed last year by ambush attack, which is
twice as many as the previous 2 years combined.
These numbers are quite disturbing, particularly when you consider
that many Democrat elected officials across the country, and in this
very House, support policies which are antipolice, like defunding the
police or dismantling police departments or eliminating qualified
immunity, which means they could be sued personally as police officers.
We need to be supporting our police officers all across the country,
not implementing policies that put them at risk.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague for
being a continual champion for our law enforcement officers.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Obernolte), my friend and colleague and a champion for law enforcement.
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, this last year has seen an
unprecedented wave of violence against law enforcement officers across
our country.
In particular, in my home State of California, 23 law enforcement
agents were shot in the line of duty last year. In my own district, the
Eighth District of California, one was unfortunately shot and killed by
gunfire. That was Sergeant Dominic Vaca of the San Bernardino County
Sheriff's Department.
Congress needs to work to support and improve our law enforcement
agencies, not to defund or dismantle them.
I am committed to protecting our law enforcement agencies and to
defending the rule of law across our country and their efforts to keep
our community safe.
Madam Speaker, last year, I was proud to host a dinner in honor of 15
of California's Eighth's first responder community who went above and
beyond the call of duty last year to serve and protect our community.
Amongst our honorees were San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff Dustin
Whitson, who was shot in the line of duty while responding to a call at
a storage facility in Hesperia; California Highway Patrol Inland
Division Officer Garret Morris, who helps run an after-school racing
team to provide community support and a safe alternative to illegal
street racing for kids in our community; San Bernardino County Deputy
Sheriff Tiffany Kautz, who was instrumental in obtaining the arrest and
conviction of a man who was sexually abusing his own stepchildren; San
Bernardino County Probation Corrections Supervisor Gina Martinez, who
passed away last September after 21 years of ensuring that each youth
in her care obtained a diploma, employment, and a place that they could
call home and feel safe.
Madam Speaker, these law enforcement officers are examples of the
dedication our first responders show to our community every day, and
their stories are echoed by countless law enforcement personnel across
our country.
Madam Speaker, it is time that this Congress stands behind our law
enforcement officers and the rule of law.
Madam Speaker, I thank each of our law enforcement officers for their
dedication to our community.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the
great State of California for continuing to be a champion for our
police departments and law enforcement officers.
Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 7 minutes
remaining.
Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, it is pretty challenging to be standing
in a room that, from the view of C-SPAN, is filled. But I can tell you
right now that it is just you and me, Madam Speaker, as well as my
colleague from the Sunshine State, Representative Rutherford, behind
me, as well as some of our fantastic staff here on the House floor.
{time} 2150
I think it is time that we stop playing these partisan games and
really come together because this truly is a bipartisan issue. This is
an issue that affects our communities as a whole, and I think if we are
going to call for responsibility, actions, and words, we should start
in this Chamber.
I have a quote here that I wanted to read from one of our colleagues.
It says: ``I am going to make sure that I have security because I know
I have had attempts on my life, and I have too much work to do. There
are too many people that need help right now. So, if I end up spending
$200,000, if I spend $10 more on it, you know what? I get to be here to
do the work. So suck it up, and defunding the police has to happen. We
need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets
because we are trying to save lives.'' Madam Speaker, those are your
words.
See, when I was homeless about a decade ago, I wasn't privileged
enough to have $200,000 to spend on private security. In fact, it was a
comfort knowing that at any moment, in some of the toughest situations
that were happening around us--violence, abuse--that a quick call to
911 would result in someone coming to help. We had nothing but the
reassurance that on the other end of that line, someone was coming to
help, someone was willing to answer the call.
I know that there is far more in this country that unites us than
divides us, but I cannot tell you how disappointed I am as we have
stood here for the last hour reciting stories of heroism, of
selflessness--if I had time, I would recite the names of our fallen
officers, but I simply haven't enough time. And, quite frankly, Madam
Speaker, you haven't even looked up off your phone.
To Americans who are watching this, know that there are people in
this Congress who do give a damn, who will look up off their phone, who
are not too bothered to listen. We will not stop fighting. We will
continue to back the blue.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________