Back the Blue
Floor Speech
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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.
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.
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