[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Federal Bureau of Investigation

  Mr. President, now on GOP extremism and our FBI resolution, today, 
the Governor of Florida is meeting with a group of hard-right GOP 
extremists here in DC. As the Governor comes to the Nation's Capital, 
the ink is still not dry on the bill he signed a few days ago banning 
practically all abortions in Florida after just 6 weeks.
  The Florida law is not the only one. Over a dozen States in the 
country now have near total bans on abortions. Idaho, for instance, is 
now the first State to explicitly outlaw out-of-State travel for 
abortions. That is sinister.
  Freedom of choice is not the only victim of GOP radicalism. Over 
11,000 Americans have now died from gun violence in the United States 
this year in school shootings, birthday parties, and New Year 
celebrations. But what are Republicans doing in response? They pose 
with machine guns on their Christmas cards. They gin up the NRA. 
They even expel State representatives who dare speak out against GOP 
inaction, as the Tennessee State House did to two members of color 
earlier this month.

  Republican radicalism is even taking aim at law enforcement. A few 
weeks ago, President Trump called for cutting funding to the Department 
of Justice and the FBI because of personal grievances, and, to date, we 
have still yet to hear Speaker McCarthy or any Republican leader speak 
up against this dangerous idea.
  But there is good news. The Members of this Chamber will have a 
chance to do the right thing and stand up for Federal law enforcement 
later this week. That is because, today, I will be introducing a 
resolution denouncing the former President's call to cut funding to our 
Federal law enforcement, and Senators will have to choose between 
standing with President Trump and his dangerous, dangerous view that we 
ought to cut funding for law enforcement and the FBI or will they stand 
with public servants to keep America safe? Again, where will they 
stand--with the former President's dangerous call to cut funding to 
Federal law enforcement or with the American people who want to be 
safe?
  The FBI and DOJ do critical work to protect our communities against 
drug trafficking, gun violence, terrorism, and so much more. We just, 
yesterday, in New York saw an example where Federal law enforcement 
arrested two individuals for running a secret, unauthorized Chinese 
police station right in the middle of Lower Manhattan.
  Do Republicans agree with President Trump that funding for Federal 
law enforcement who guard against terrorism and CCP encroachment should 
be cut or even eliminated? Again, this is the kind of resolution that 
should pass unanimously.
  If Senate Republicans block this provision, they will be telling the 
American people that the GOP has been utterly consumed by extremism, 
where not women, not schools, not even Federal law enforcement are 
safe.