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Lawmaker urges support for police, cites violence and says vote on enforcement measures is coming
Summary
A lawmaker, speaking during National Police Week, urged backing for law enforcement, criticized Democratic policies as soft on crime, cited recent violent incidents and announced a planned vote this week on unspecified measures to "empower law enforcement."
A lawmaker urged support for police and sharply criticized Democratic approaches to public safety in remarks tied to National Police Week, saying House Republicans "will always back the blue." The speaker cited recent violent incidents and said members would vote this week on measures to strengthen law enforcement.
The lawmaker accused Democrats of efforts to "defund the police" and argued those policies have made some cities less safe, saying in part, "In blue states and blue cities across this country, the danger of Democrats pro criminal policies has been put on full display." The remarks included two cited incidents the speaker said illustrated the risk to communities and officers: an elderly retired teacher pushed down subway stairs in New York and a woman stabbed on a North Carolina train by a man the speaker said had "14 prior arrests." These incidents were presented by the speaker as evidence of the need for stronger law enforcement measures.
The speaker also criticized a governor named in the remarks for describing federal law enforcement as "the modern day Gestapo," and said an officer was later "dragged by a car and severely injured." The lawmaker contrasted Republican policy, saying that under "President Trump's law and order agenda, the murder rate has actually dropped to its lowest rate in 125 years," a claim attributed to the speaker and not independently verified by this report.
On the floor of the chamber the speaker said, "this week we're going to vote on more common sense legislation to empower law enforcement and defend the police, not defund them." The speaker did not identify the bills, provide bill numbers, or record a vote in the remarks transcribed here. No sponsor, motion text, or vote tally appeared in the transcript excerpt.
The remarks closed with a further appeal to officers' service and sacrifice during National Police Week: "One week will never be enough to honor your bravery, sacrifice and your service."
