[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, tomorrow, January 9, is National Law
Enforcement Appreciation Day. For 365 days a year, but especially
tomorrow, we offer our gratitude to our country's men and women. When
you meet one of them, you should say: Thank you for your work. Thank
you for keeping the peace.
With President Trump's support, law enforcement nationwide is making
America safer. This year, violent crime is down 12 percent and murders
across our major cities are down 20 percent. Record amounts of
dangerous drugs like fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and heroin have been
seized and, thankfully, are off our streets due to the hard work of law
enforcement's very courageous work. I am proud to back the blue. I am
also grateful for their work to maintain the peace.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee this year, I have
continued my work to support law enforcement in Iowa but also
nationwide. In that role, I worked with Senate Republicans and the
White House as part of the Working Families Tax Cut law signed by the
President on July 4, securing historic support for the Byrne JAG and
COPS Programs for local police as well as efforts to combat drug
trafficking.
Additionally, four bipartisan bills the Judiciary Committee passed
during Police Week in May became law with the passage of the National
Defense Authorization Act. These new laws will expand access to Federal
support for law enforcement and their families and help State and local
law enforcement combat online child exploitation.
The National Defense Authorization Act also expanded counterdrone
authorities for State and local law enforcement agencies using language
that was based on legislation that I worked on in a bipartisan way with
the senior Senator from Michigan.
We should all look forward, but I want you to know that I look
forward to working further with my colleagues this year to support
police in a bipartisan way. We are very fortunate that this type of
legislation is mostly bipartisan in the Congress.
To all those who have selflessly answered the call to keep our
communities safe, I say thank you. May God bless you and may God
protect you as you go about your work of protecting the American
people.
I yield the floor.
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