[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             BACK THE BLUE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 7, 2022

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to express 
my heartfelt appreciation for our law enforcement officers.
  The men and women in blue who keep our streets safe are heroes. Every 
day when they put on their uniform, they do so mindful that they may be 
called upon to put themselves in harm's way. By stepping forward and 
selflessly protecting us, they make everything else possible. The 
recent violence against our police officers is a stark reminder of the 
dangers of the job.
  On May 31, 2021, Sergeant Dominic Vaca of the San Bernardino County 
Sheriffs Department was killed in the line of duty. Sgt. Vaca spent 17 
years protecting the Inland Empire and died a hero. He is just one of 
346 officers who was shot in the line of duty in 2021.
  Homicide rates in California rose 17 percent last year--on top of a 
31 percent rise in 2020. I believe these increases can be in large part 
attributed to radical calls to defund our police and Democrats' soft on 
crime rhetoric.
  Thankfully, most Americans see our officers for the agents of good 
that they are. In left-leaning states, however, like California, 
Democrats have enacted laws that actually make it more difficult for 
our law enforcement officers to do their job. This is wrong. This is 
dangerous.
  I specifically would like to thank those that keep my community safe. 
Sheriff Chad Bianco; the Riverside County Sheriffs Department who serve 
our county and contract cities; as well as the officers of the Corona, 
Menifee, and Murrieta Police Departments; and all those who serve 
Riverside County and across the Inland Empire. I thank them for the 
selfless and heroic work they do.
  I stand fully behind our law enforcement officers and will continue 
to vote for policies that support public safety. We can never repay the 
men and women who wear the uniform and keep our loved ones safe. But we 
can--and we should--always have their back.

                          ____________________