Recognizing Law Enforcement Officers Across the Country

Floor Speech

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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Biggs for organizing this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our men and women in law enforcement and to call for the restoration of the rule of law in this country.

Over the past several months, we have heard politicians, pundits, and riot participants vilifying our Nation's law enforcement officers, brave men and women who have sworn an oath to protect and serve their communities.

We must remember that words have consequences, especially when those words are uttered by Members in this Chamber.

The overwhelming majority of police officers are good people. These men and women do the right job for the right reasons, and the people of Virginia's Sixth District strongly support these brave men and women. We have seen Back the Blue rallies spring up across the Commonwealth.

Following the ambush of two sheriff's deputies in L.A. County this past weekend, I was moved to speak today to urge my colleagues to recommit themselves to honoring those in blue.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 193 members of law enforcement have been killed this year in the line of duty, nearly 40 of whom were as a result of a gunshot wound.

These brave souls were moms, dads, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives, each with a story, and each laid down their life for their fellow citizens. Their deaths bring no more holidays, no more anniversaries, no more birthdays, simply no more days.

Regardless of race, gender, or creed, police officers are there in times of crisis. They very literally answer the call and run toward the sounds of danger while others run from them.

Too many have given their last full measure in the line of duty, only to have their memory disgraced with calls to defund and dismantle our police departments, which by doing so would destroy the peace in which Americans are blessed to live.

Some in this Chamber have been actually pushing an antipolice agenda.

Mr. Speaker, I am tired of folks playing politics with people's lives. Over the past few months, we have seen too much death, too much destruction, and too much division. We must restore the rule of law in this country, and we must get our country back on track.

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