Expressing Support for Law Enforcement Officers
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1275, I call up the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 96) expressing support for law enforcement officers, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Con. Res. 96.
Mr. Speaker, we owe a great deal of gratitude to the men and women in law enforcement who make sacrifices every day. They miss dinners, holidays, parent-teacher conferences, sports games, performances, and celebrations with their families so that the rest of us can live safely. These brave officers are the thin blue line that stand between our communities and chaos.
For years, radical Democrats championed the defund the police movement, slashed police budgets, and demonized entire police departments while crimes skyrocketed. Murders, carjackings, and retail thefts surged. We also saw leftist rogue prosecutors utterly fail to enforce the laws and uphold their oath of office. They refused to prosecute entire categories of crime, implemented cashless bail, released violent offenders back into society, and the list goes on and on.
We have seen Democrats support sanctuary city policies and openly side with illegal immigrants over American citizens. Sanctuary jurisdictions proudly shield criminal aliens from Federal immigration authorities, regardless of the cost to the residents. Officials from these jurisdictions tie the hands of their very own police departments. We have seen time and again how these jurisdictions refuse to honor an ICE detainer, release a criminal alien back onto the streets, and then that alien commits another heinous crime. Almost one-third of the country lives in a sanctuary jurisdiction. That is roughly 100 million Americans.
Where these failed policies took hold, chaos followed. Thankfully, the Trump administration has restored law and order. Because of President Trump, the border is secure.
Because of President Trump, the homicide rate has declined an average of 21 percent in 35 major U.S. cities, reaching the lowest level recorded in over a century.
Because of President Trump, we have seen the lowest number of drug overdoses since 2019.
These historic results prove that when we enforce the law and prioritize prosecuting violent crime, American communities become safer for everyone. When law enforcement officers are empowered to do their jobs, American communities become safer for everyone. When politicians support the police instead of siding with radical activists, American communities become safer for everyone.
To every police officer watching today, America sees you. We thank you. We stand with you.
I urge my colleagues to support our brave men and women in law enforcement, reject policies that make Americans less safe, and support this resolution.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, you know, when I hear the term ``national consensus,'' what seems to be national consensus is that the Democrats were the ones that promoted defund the police. I have here a list of cities who cut a total of $1.71 billion to promote police. They did that because they wanted to defund the police.
I hear that there is a consensus bill. The Democrats couldn't even get a unanimous vote on the bill we just voted on just an hour or so ago. I mean, it is just hokum. It is just flat out hokum.
Well, the national consensus is that Democrats are well-known to have supported the defund the police movement.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), the sponsor of the bill.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, it is interesting to think back on 2020 as being the measuring line that you are coming from because, when you remember, that is the year of George Floyd. That is the year of CHAZ, CHOP, and rioting, wholesale violence, the Portland courthouse under siege, and the defund police movement, even by some across the aisle in Congress.
What has happened since President Trump has come in? Violent crime rates have declined significantly in major cities across the United States. That is what this resolution says at one point. Let's get here.
Do they deny the drop? No, they don't deny the drop. They just don't like the fact that Donald Trump gets some credit for it. The TDS has been on display.
The numbers are clear. Why does falling crime under renewed law and order priorities threaten the worldview of Democrats? It shouldn't.
In Chicago, for instance, in 2025, homicides plunged 29 percent after Donald Trump was elected, from 587 in 2024 to 417 last year.
In Columbus, Ohio, in the same period, rapes dropped 39 percent, from 1,116 down to 678.
In Houston, ag assaults fell 17 percent, from 18,590 to 15,378.
Robberies in L.A. dropped 15.3 percent, from 8,593 to 7,278.
New York City recorded the fewest shooting victims and shooting incidents in its entire recorded history in 2025.
Democrats spent years telling us that backing the police, enforcing laws, and rejecting soft-on-crime nonsense wouldn't work, that it was racist, outdated, or somehow made things worse. Yet, the American people can see the results with their own eyes--safer streets, fewer victims. That is what is specifically stated in this resolution.
What don't they like about it? It mentions Donald J. Trump. It is that simple. They should be coming along with us.
Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I said last time I was prepared to close. I assumed that was his closing.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close. Is the gentleman prepared to close?
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
We heard a lot about pardons. It is not mentioned at all in this resolution.
But it is real fun, you know, when you think about pardons, and I have got article after article here. There is a whole stack of them right here of the more than 3,000 people that President Biden pardoned, some massive fraudsters who never paid their restitution. Odd, isn't it?
Quite frankly, Joe Biden was going on a pardon-issuing spree to such an extent he even pardoned a few Members of Congress. How about that. That is pretty interesting to me.
Let's see. If you didn't know what was in this resolution, as most Americans don't and anybody watching, you would think this is all about how heinous of an individual Donald J. Trump, our President, is. You saw that TDS on display.
But I am going to do a favor for everybody. I am going to go over the 11 clauses in this resolution that honor police officers.
By the way, Democrats couldn't even get a unanimous vote when the resolution we just voted on listed fallen officers. They think we are creating partisanship with this. That is not the case.
Facts are stubborn things. They don't want to honor police. They were the party of defund the police.
Let's take a look at the clauses.
Number one: ``Whereas the brave men and women in law enforcement work tirelessly and relentlessly to safeguard the communities they are sworn to protect, serving as the backbone of public safety across our Nation.''
What do my colleagues on the other side find controversial here? What is it? Do they deny that officers work tirelessly? Do they deny that communities depend on them? Because if you can't even affirm this, your problem isn't with the resolution. It is with reality.
Number two: ``Whereas law enforcement officers bear the critical responsibility of upholding the rule of law and maintaining the safety, stability, and public order upon which our communities depend.''
What offends them, the rule of law part or the idea that safety and stability actually matter? They never touched on this.
Number three: ``Whereas law enforcement officers routinely and selflessly risk their own lives and safety to combat crime, remove dangerous and lethal drugs from our streets, and stand in defense of the most vulnerable among us.''
What is their objection? What is their objection? Do they think law enforcement don't risk their lives, that drugs aren't lethal or that the vulnerable don't deserve that shield? They should tell the widows and orphans of fallen officers why this fact bothers them.
Number four: ``Whereas law enforcement officers strengthen our communities through outreach, mentorship, crisis response, and countless daily acts of service that frequently go unrecognized.''
Which of these acts of service do they reject? The mentorship? The crisis intervention?
Number five: ``Whereas from resolving neighborhood disputes to checking in on elderly residents and guiding youth programs, officers provide a quiet and steady presence that extends far beyond traditional law enforcement duties.''
Is it the neighborhood dispute resolution that you oppose or the very idea of a steady, positive police presence?
What is it that you oppose?
Number six: ``Whereas rhetoric and policies from leftist activists and progressive politicians seek to defund or dismantle local police departments, undermine public safety, and place both officers and the communities they serve at greater risk.''
I thought this was your goal. For years many of you and your allies championed it in the streets. You posted on official social media accounts. You introduced legislation and redirected budgets away from law enforcement. The defund the police movement wasn't some fever dream. It was your rallying cry.
Do you deny now that that rhetoric ever existed?
Do you deny that progressive politicians and leftist activists aggressively pushed these policies in cities across the country?
Do you deny the explosion in violent crime?
You can't spend years trying to kneecap, starve, and demonize the police and then act outraged when a resolution dares to call it what it was: a dangerous failure that hurt people.
Number seven: ``Whereas sanctuary city policies that restrict cooperation with Federal immigration authorities can compel local law enforcement agencies to divert already limited resources and actively encourage resentment toward local law enforcement.''
Again, I thought this was your goal. We have heard it loud and clear from dozens of your own politicians from Minnesota to Boston, California and beyond, people proudly declaring they will not cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement. They will shield the illegal aliens, even the worst of the worst: murderers, rapists, and gang members. They will keep them out on the streets rather than let ICE do its job.
Do they deny these sanctuary policies exist and deliberately restrict cooperation with Federal authorities?
Almost one-third of Americans live in sanctuary jurisdictions. You can't champion policies that protect criminals over cops and then act shocked when the resolution says sanctuary policies sabotage law enforcement at every level.
``Whereas the Trump administration's focus on restoring law and order has contributed to a notable decline in homicide rates, with levels reaching among the lowest recorded in over a century.''
Data is data, and facts are facts. A report by the Council on Criminal Justice says this: Homicides in 35 major cities declined by 21 percent from 2024 to 2025. Just in Washington, D.C., President Trump is protecting our citizens from failed progressive governance. We have seen incredible drops in violence. Homicides are down 52 percent. Sex abuse is down 48 percent, robbery is down 23 percent, and vehicle theft is down 56 percent. All crime overall is down 25 percent, and Washington, D.C., is on pace for roughly 42 murders this year, the lowest rates since at least 1930. Compare that to the 274 murders in 2023.
Number nine: ``Whereas drug overdose deaths in the United States have declined significantly, reaching their lowest levels since 2019.''
Which part of that is fake news to you? The decline? The significance? Or is it the timing as enforcement and border focus tighten?
Under Biden administration's catastrophic open-border policies, fentanyl poured across the southern border like never before, over 100,000 deaths, killing tens of thousands. That wasn't an accident. It was a predictable deadly result in prioritizing illegal immigration over American lives.
Now with the Trump administration's renewed focus on securing the border, cracking down on traffickers and backing law enforcement, the body count is falling. Lives are being saved. We are reversing that damage.
They should own their failure or at least get out of the way while we clean it up.
Number 11: ``Whereas law enforcement officers deserve our deepest respect, unwavering support, and profound gratitude.''
Let me ask my friends on the other side of the aisle: If you vote against this resolution, are you voting against gratitude for these men and women who deserve our grateful attitudes and thankfulness?
Explain it.
Mr. Speaker, he is out of order. He knows he is getting whipped, and that is why he is out of order.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, that is a perfect example of what happens when the Democrats cannot answer for their policies that have wrecked cities and demeaned police officers. They have to be rude and interrupt. They can't sit silent because they know that they are profoundly responsible for the results of their policies.
I want them to explain to every officer watching right now, explain to their families, and explain to their spouses who lost a partner and the parentless children and tell them why basic appreciation for the people who risk their lives is somehow too much to ask.
Tell them why they don't deserve respect. Tell them why they don't deserve support.
After everything, after your defund movement, you cheered. After the sanctuary policies you defended and you continue to defend, after the crime waves your ideology unleashed, and after watching this country bleed for years under your failed experiments of policies, you can't bring yourself to say a simple thank you.
Enough. The American people are done with your excuses. They are done watching you demonize the only people standing between them and anarchy.
We support our police. We will back the blue, and we will pass this resolution to send one unmistakable message: In America, law enforcement officers have friends, they have allies, and they have the unwavering gratitude of a grateful nation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to vote to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source