Expressing Support for Local Law Enforcement Officers and Condemning Efforts to Defund Local Law Enforcement Agencies

Floor Speech

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Mr. IVEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a former prosecutor who handled cases in both Federal and State courts, I worked closely with many law enforcement officers on a day- to-day basis over many years, developing strong relationships with officers who put their lives on the line on a daily basis.

In fact, my record and relationships with officers are part of the reasons I have been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police every time I have run for office. That is why, in part, I regret having to rise in opposition to H. Con. Res. 106.

Traditionally, National Police Week has been recognized as a solemn, unifying occasion. It is a time when Members can come together in a bipartisan fashion to recognize and honor the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. However, instead of respecting the dignity of this week, some of my colleagues have decided to move forward with, frankly, political rhetoric in this resolution to satisfy partisan purposes.

This resolution amounts to a slap in the face of many Federal law enforcement officers who serve and protect us, as well. Among this resolution's flaws is it completely ignores Federal law enforcement officers who fight crime working infrequently with the local law enforcement officers whom we are discussing here today.

Many of them enforce our laws against human trafficking and drug trafficking, including the rapid rise of fentanyl, the massive flow of firearms, including ghost guns, that illegally enter our country and communities and endanger all of us.

To offer a resolution that fails to honor Federal law enforcement officers as well is just plain wrong.

I made this objection in the committee when we were having a hearing on a related bill a few weeks ago, so this shouldn't come as a surprise to my colleagues. However, in recent years, Republicans have consistently blamed the rise in violent crime on Democrats and attempted to pin the ``defend the police'' rhetoric on Democrats labeling Democrats as the party to defund the police.

Yet, a Republican colleague of ours introduced H.R. 374, the Abolish the ATF Act, a one-line bill that would do away with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He also threatened to ``defund,'' ``get rid of,'' or ``abolish'' other Federal agencies, including the FBI, CDC, and DOJ, ``if they do not come to heel.''

Another one of my Republican colleagues called for defunding the FBI, as well, and we have multiple Republican colleagues who have made similar kinds of calls to defund Federal law enforcement, even though I think all of us recognize how critical they are to protecting the United States and handling matters in conjunction with local law enforcement authorities or, in some instances, where local law enforcement authorities don't have the jurisdiction or the authority to handle a matter.

H. Con. Res. 106 endeavors to continue those efforts, unfortunately, repeating the verbatim attacks, as we heard just a moment ago, on Federal law enforcement and the Democrats, sentiments that were asserted in a different context in H. Con. Res. 40 last year, when the Democrats offered legislation for National Police Week.

This resolution claims that the defund the police movement vilifies and demonizes local law enforcement, putting them at greater risk of danger, while ignoring the Republicans' own efforts to defund law enforcement, whether by opposing grant funding that sometimes supports State and local agencies or by calling to abolish Federal agencies, as I just mentioned a moment ago.

We should be reminded that, through the American Rescue Plan, Democrats have provided the largest Federal investment in public safety in the Nation's history. $350 billion has allowed cities across the country to keep law enforcement officers on the beat and communities safer from violence. Police departments have used this funding to establish training facilities, hire more officers, and raise salaries.

Rather than playing at partisanship, like we are today, in the 117th Congress, House Democrats passed priority policing bills that extended death benefits to law enforcement officers with PTSD, provided funding to law enforcement and other first responders to improve interactions with civilians, authorized $300 million in grants for law enforcement agencies with fewer than 125 officers, made significant investments in deescalation training, and provided $100 million per year in grants to solve cold-case violent crimes, all over Republican objections.

More disappointingly, this resolution before us today continues the Republican record of devaluing the lives and contributions of the 137,000 Federal agents and officers serving in the 50 States and the District of Columbia, including the Capitol Police, who we all should recall protect us here on a daily basis.

Although H. Con. Res. 106 does not demonize specific Democratic Members or so-called leftist activists who support efforts to defund or reallocate funding for local law enforcement agencies, as H. Con. Res. 40 did last year, this resolution is similarly a missed opportunity to truly support law enforcement officers across the country and is designed, once again, to falsely paint Democrats as opponents of law enforcement.

Madam Speaker, it is for these reasons that I oppose H. Con. Res. 106, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Let's restore the dignity of Police Week by advancing truly bipartisan acclamations and support for law enforcement efforts.

Madam Speaker, in 2002, President George W. Bush proclaimed that Police Officers Memorial Day and Police Week pay tribute to the local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers who serve and protect us with courage and dedication. Since its inception, National Police Week has been meant to bring Members of Congress together, no matter their political affiliation, to acknowledge the contributions of all law enforcement professionals and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in the line of duty.

Whether State, local, Tribal, or Federal, we are grateful for the service of all officers, agents, and support staff who work tirelessly to protect us and keep us safe. We should be able to make that clear today.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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