On the Senate floor Wednesday, Senate Republicans delivered remarks on National Police Week.
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00:01Senator from Oklahoma.
00:02Is the Senate currently in a quorum call?
00:04No, it is not.
00:08Mr. President, I flew back to Washington, D.C. from the glorious state of Oklahoma on Monday.
00:14It's a normal flight for me to be able to fly in on a Monday morning.
00:18As I landed at the DCA airport, stepped off the plane and squeezed out of my coach seat
00:25where I've been in for the last three hours,
00:28walked off the plane and into the terminal,
00:31and there was a line of police officers on both sides of the gate.
00:36They were an honor guard from all over the country.
00:41And as I walked off the plane, I realized there's a family member of the fallen on my same plane.
00:51And I didn't know it.
00:54Many Americans may not know that this is Police Week.
00:57It's a week when the nation stops to be able to pause to thank all those police officers that serve around the country
01:04that literally put their lives on the line every single week for our country.
01:09Every week.
01:11My colleague Ashley Moody, she's helping co-host this time of when we have a conversation about Police Week
01:18and what it means to do law enforcement in America now.
01:21Now, she is not only a great senator from Florida, but she's also the wife of the deputy police chief of the Plant City Police Department in Florida.
01:31She knows what it means to be able to hug a loved one, look him in the eye and say, stay safe out there.
01:38She knows exactly what that means.
01:40And as I stepped off the plane on Monday and walked through the middle of that honor guard
01:46is they were looking for a family member to step off somewhere on that plane.
01:52What they were looking for this week was the family of a fallen police officer to step off that same plane
01:58that they were going to escort into Washington, D.C.
02:01because this week their loved one's name is being added to the list of law enforcement that have died in the line of duty.
02:16It's a painful reminder of the reality of what it means to be in law enforcement.
02:22You get up every day and you take care of your neighbors.
02:25Some days you're pulling over a reckless driver and trying to be able to protect the rest of the community
02:30from someone who's had too much alcohol, smoked too much marijuana.
02:34By the way, I think any is too much, but that's a different conversation for a different day.
02:39For that person they're going to try to protect the rest of society from their dangerous acts.
02:44It's that moment when we're in traffic and we're driving down the road
02:47and a car whips around us at 90 miles an hour and weaves through traffic
02:51and we think, I wish there was a police officer here to take care of that.
02:55They are out there.
02:58Some of them are going to get up this morning very early and do a warrant service.
03:06Someone who has violated the law that they're going to be able to actually get to their house maybe at 3 in the morning
03:12and to try to be able to arrest them before there's an incident.
03:17There's some of them that are actually, there's a shot being fired in an apartment complex somewhere
03:22and as everybody else scatters, they turn on their lights and drive towards the sound.
03:28They're law enforcement.
03:30It's what they do.
03:32They get up every day, they put on a vest to be able to protect the center of their body
03:39because they know at any point during the course of the day they could be facing danger coming right at them.
03:44And they serve their community.
03:48It's always interesting to me when I often ask people their thoughts and beliefs about law enforcement.
03:54And I say the real test of what you think about police is when you're driving down the highway
04:00and you look in your rearview mirror and you see an officer right behind you.
04:04That's always your test of what you actually think about police is that first emotion.
04:10Is that first emotion, oh no, or is that first emotion, I feel safer, there's a police officer right behind me.
04:19You see those law enforcement officers literally spend every day protecting total strangers that live in their community.
04:28They work very long hours, a lot of times in isolation,
04:32and they go into dangerous places often first by themselves because they care about their community.
04:39In the past decade there seems to have been a shift in attitudes about law enforcement.
04:48For some reason it's become trendy to be able to attack law enforcement, to belittle them,
04:54to demand we defund police departments entirely, to be able to criticize them from every sort of thing.
05:01And I would tell you every police officer I talk to will say, hey, we're all humans too.
05:06We make mistakes as well, just like everyone else.
05:09But for some reason, law enforcement doesn't seem to get the same grace everybody else gets.
05:15When someone gets pulled over and gets a warning, they're grateful for the grace.
05:20But when the news hits of a police officer doing something,
05:23it seems the community doesn't want to give them a warning.
05:26It wants them to always get consequences.
05:29And what I hear from most law enforcement that I know is, hey, we're just one of everybody else.
05:36But the difference is, we've dedicated our lives to protecting people that will cuss us out,
05:43and that will literally lie to us all day long.
05:46But we're still committed to protect them.
05:52That's what they do.
05:54They literally get into a dangerous situation, as has happened recently in Oklahoma,
06:01that could have been shots coming at them or an attack coming at them.
06:04But instead, that person turns the weapon on themselves.
06:09And law enforcement immediately moved from trying to protect the community and protecting themselves
06:14to jumping in immediately and trying to save the life of the person who just started attacking them.
06:21How many people would do that?
06:26Law enforcement does it every day.
06:28Every day.
06:31There's an old adage in tax policy.
06:33If you tax something more, you get less of it.
06:36Raise the taxes on it, enough, and people just stop buying it.
06:40You know, it works exactly the same with criticism.
06:43If you criticize something more and more and more, you get less and less and less of it.
06:48I remember a day when I was growing up that everybody wanted to be a police officer
06:53because everyone had respect for police officers.
06:56And now there's a generation growing up that all they've heard is criticism of law enforcement.
07:01And you know what?
07:02It's hurting recruiting.
07:04Why don't we look people in the eye and see them for who they are?
07:11They're folks that get up every day, defend their neighbors,
07:16and do what they can to bring calm to a crazy chaotic situation
07:21and serve total strangers.
07:23The benefit of my dad being a small town cop for decades.
07:30I know what it's like to be in a family
07:36and to be able to think about how's your family member doing today.
07:40So when I talk about law enforcement, maybe it's a little different for me.
07:45But I think it should be a little different for our whole community, actually.
07:50And I think it should be different for our nation.
07:53So in this Police Week, I have two things to say.
07:59Thank you to those that are serving all over the country right now.
08:04Some right here in this capital.
08:06Thank you to those folks that are serving today our nation.
08:09We are exceptionally grateful for you.
08:11And for those of you that this year have lost a loved one in the line of duty.
08:19I want you to know that our nation is grateful.
08:22We see their sacrifice.
08:25And we are of the tribe to be able to say we want this to be different.
08:32In 2020, Sergeant Johnson, Craig Johnson.
08:39I'm going to say his whole name.
08:41Sergeant Craig Johnson in 2020 was shot during a traffic stop in Tulsa.
08:46He was 45 years old.
08:49He had a wife, Christie, and two sons, Connor and Clinton.
08:55Sergeant Johnson's killer was sentenced in 2022.
09:01His wife, Christie, just had one clear thing to say.
09:05She said, my request at this time is that the silent majority that I've seen and heard from
09:10start speaking up and changing the anti-police culture being created.
09:16Christie, we still hear you three years later.
09:21And we are still grateful for the sacrifice you and your family have made
09:25and for other families like yours.
09:28And we are not silent.
09:30We are grateful.
09:33That I yield the floor.
09:37Mr. President.
09:43Senator from Florida.
09:45Senator from Oklahoma certainly said some powerful things.
09:51And I want to thank him as the son of a cop for making those statements and for leading this
09:57floor event today and allowing me to assist him with that as the wife of a cop.
10:03It was very meaningful to me.
10:05And I know it was meaningful to many in this gallery.
10:10I rise today in celebration of officers but with solemn reflection during National Police Week.
10:20It is a time when our nation pauses to honor the men and women of law enforcement and to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
10:29And certainly as the newest senator of the United States Senate, it is an honor for me to be here on the Senate floor to lead this floor event and these speeches that show united support for the men and women that serve.
10:46I want to thank Sheriff Bill Prummel from Charlotte County who is here with us.
10:53He is also the president of the Florida Sheriff's Association.
10:56So we have 67 sheriffs within our state.
10:59He leads the herd of them.
11:01And we are grateful that he is here along with other men and women of law enforcement from Florida.
11:06He is certainly a hero that I have become friends with and respect not just for the person he is but for the person he was when he chose to take the oath and wear a badge.
11:19I think that takes a really selfless, special, brave person.
11:24And I know we have students with us and visitors here today in the gallery.
11:29And I would like him to stand so that they can recognize and see a true Florida hero.
11:34Thank you, Sheriff Prummel.
11:37Police Week is more than a yearly tradition.
11:40It is a promise that we will never forget.
11:43That we will never take for granted the courage it takes to wear that badge.
11:47And that we will never stop saying the names or praying for the families of those that we have lost.
11:55Every day, officers across this country put on their uniforms.
11:59They put on the badge and they put on a bulletproof vest not knowing what that day will hold.
12:04And they do so out of a deep commitment and love for the community that they serve.
12:09They stand in the gap so that others may live in safety and peace.
12:13But that comes with risk.
12:17In Florida, I say time and time again, and we pride ourselves.
12:22We may have a bit of a debate and a friendly competition here, but I believe we will win,
12:27that we are the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation.
12:31Our leaders back the blue, tan and green, and we do whatever it takes to help those brave officers do their jobs.
12:39And today, we gather to honor those who gave everything in service to that oath.
12:44In honor of National Police Week, I was proud to join a bipartisan resolution designating May 11th through 17th as National Police Week.
12:53This Police Week resolution reiterates our unwavering support for law enforcement officers across this nation.
12:59As Florida's former Attorney General and the wife of a law enforcement officer, I've had the opportunity to work closely with so many brave men and women in law enforcement across Florida and indeed our nation.
13:13They stand on that thin line between good and evil, between order and chaos.
13:19They do so that we may sleep safely and soundly at night.
13:24And this week, we remember not only the uniforms and titles, but the lives, the people behind them.
13:31I would like to recognize and ask for a moment to honor the following Florida heroes who gave their lives over the past year while protecting our communities.
13:41Deputy Sheriff William May from Walton County Sheriff's Office.
13:46Sergeant Elio Diaz from Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
13:50Deputy Sheriff Ignacio Dan Diaz from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
13:55Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller Jr. from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
14:00Corporal Louis Paez from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
14:04Corrections Officer Bradford McNew from Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
14:09Police Officer Jeremy Boykins from West Palm Beach Police Department.
14:13And Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link from Lake County Sheriff's Office.
14:18Trooper Zachary Fink from Florida Highway Patrol.
14:23Each of those names represents not only a terrible loss to our state, but they leave a legacy of bravery, selflessness,
14:33selflessness, and unwavering service.
14:36To the families, friends, and fellow officers of those we lost, we see you, we stand with you, we grieve with you, and we continue to pray for you.
14:56As the wife of a career law enforcement officer, I cannot imagine this loss or express words to ease pain.
15:08But we offer our deepest gratitude and our support, and we are here for you in every way possible.
15:17And thank you that you stood by them, why they stood for us in ensuring our communities could live in peace and safety.
15:27Your loved ones were the heroes, the Florida heroes.
15:30And their memories live on in the communities that they protected and the lives that they touched.
15:36And to every active duty officer here in Washington D.C. this week for National Police Week.
15:42And those back at home protecting our communities right now as I'm speaking on the Senate floor.
15:48Thank you for your courage.
15:50Thank you for answering this important call to stand strong and brave on that line.
15:56Thank you for serving even when it's difficult, even when it's dangerous, and even when it comes at great personal cost.
16:06And on a personal note, please let me thank those families that stand behind you.
16:12They stand behind you even when there is an unpredictable schedule.
16:16Even when there are unique stressors that you bring home.
16:19Thank you to those families for loving and supporting our brave Florida heroes.
16:24And let us carry forward the legacy of the following.
16:30Duty, honor, and service.
16:33Those indeed were the mission and the dedication and service of those that we have lost.
16:44That is how they lived their lives every day.
16:47They stood for something greater than themselves.
16:51Thank you so much, Mr. President.
16:53And I yield the floor.
16:58Senator from Missouri.
16:59Thank you, Mr. President.
17:00I rise today for National Police Week to honor the courageous men and women of law enforcement in Missouri and across our great country.
17:09Over the past decade, our police officers have weathered a flood of propaganda and lies, repeated and pushed by many of the most powerful voices in America.
17:20They've been villainized and smeared by the press, undermined and attacked by politicians and targeted by a great wave of violent anarchy that has terrorized towns and cities across the country.
17:35They carry this burden with the same quiet courage and resolve as the generations of American police officers that came before them.
17:45They put on their uniforms every morning and ran towards the danger.
17:51It's been my honor to back the blue every step of the way.
17:55I did it as Attorney General of Missouri.
17:58I backed tougher sentencing rules, fought anti-police policies pushed by city officials, led the charge to secure more boots on the ground for our police in St.
18:08Louis and launched the Safer Streets initiative, partnering with federal prosecutors to go after violent criminals in Missouri's most dangerous neighborhoods.
18:17When I ran for the Senate, I was proud to be endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, and I've worked every day to make good on the trust our law enforcement officers have placed in me.
18:30Last month, I introduced the Public Safety Free Speech Act to defend the First Amendment rights of our police and our firefighters and our first responders who have been disciplined, suspended or even fired for their political speech.
18:49In many parts of our country, first responders have little to no legal protections for constitutionally protected speech, even when they're off duty, leaving them at the mercy of activist supervisors and city officials.
19:05Police and other first responders have been fired or suspended criticizing Black Lives Matter, voicing support for President Trump, or even donating $25 to Kyle Rittenhouse's defense fund.
19:20That's wrong, and our bill would make it right.
19:25If you want to know the kind of danger our first responders face every day, look at what happened just a few weeks ago.
19:31On April 27th, a Kansas City first responder was brutally murdered by a known criminal who'd been released from custody shortly before the attack.
19:42His name is Graham Hoffman.
19:45He was just 29 years old.
19:48He was stabbed to death while trying to save someone's life.
19:52In the wake of that tragedy, I announce that I'll be working with our brave firefighters here in Washington, D.C.
20:00and around the country and other first responder groups to introduce a bill to increase federal penalties for killing or assaulting first responders.
20:10Those who would assault or kill police officers and first responders should know that they will face swift and devastating justice.
20:19It's no coincidence that the radicals who seek to dismantle our civilization have our law enforcement officers in their crosshairs.
20:28They know that our policemen are the guardians of law and order.
20:32The thin blue line between peace and chaos, order and lawlessness, society and anarchy.
20:46Without them, there is no rule of law.
20:49And without the rule of law, there is no civilization.
20:52This is the sacred responsibility of the men and women who risk their lives so that others may live in peace.
20:59I will never apologize for standing with those who wear the badge.
21:03I always have and I always will.
21:06I yield back, Mr. President.
21:17Mr. President.
21:18Senator North Dakota.
21:19Senator North Dakota.
21:20I rise during National Police Week, joining my colleagues to recognize the sacrifices of the brave men and women of law enforcement.
21:29And honor those who choose to serve their communities while experiencing the reality every day that they may not return home to their loved ones.
21:39It was nearly two years ago that I stood on the floor here in the U.S. Senate and spoke about one such example of that self-sacrifice in my state of North Dakota.
21:50In July 2023, Fargo police officer Jake Walleen was tragically killed in the line of duty.
21:56He and his fellow officers were ambushed while responding to a traffic incident.
22:01In addition to Officer Walleen officers Andrew Dodus and Tyler Hawes were shot and injured before a fourth Fargo police officer Zach Robinson overcame a barrage of gunfire and eventually subdued the assailant.
22:16Last year during Police Week, Officer Robinson was recognized for his courage under fire by the National Association of Police Organizations and received the Top Cop Award for his actions during that tragic event.
22:30At the same time, the name of Officer Walleen, along with another North Dakota hero, Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin, were inscribed onto the National Law Enforcement Memorial here in Washington, D.C.
22:45A lasting tribute for making the ultimate sacrifice.
22:50We can never forget these officers and we can never repay all of our police officers for the enormous sacrifices that they make.
23:02But we can continue to show respect for law enforcement, honor those we've lost and recognize the sacrifices of their families and their loved ones.
23:11To honor men and women in blue, I helped introduce a resolution along with my colleague from Missouri and others commemorating National Police Week and paying tribute to their bravery.
23:24National Police Week provides us with the opportunity to come together as a nation to honor the peace officers who put their lives on the line to protect and serve in our communities.
23:35In addition, our resolution recognizes and honors the 233 law enforcement officers that were killed in the line of duty during 2024.
23:44Unfortunately, this number has increased since 2023 when 220 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty.
23:53The recent examples we've seen of law enforcement officers being targeted, even in broad daylight, are unacceptable.
24:02That's why I've also helped introduce the Thin Blue Line Act, legislation to increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement and first responders.
24:11And I encourage my colleagues to support legislation like this to protect the men and women of law enforcement.
24:18As we again mark National Police Week, let us recognize the selflessness and commitment of our police officers and the sacrifices they make on behalf of our communities.
24:31Today and every day, we recognize the bravery and dedication of our law enforcement to keep our communities safe.
24:40They are our neighbors, our friends, our family and our leaders in our communities.
24:48May God bless our peace officers and keep them safe.
24:53With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
25:03The Senator from Nebraska.
25:05Mr. President, this week is National Police Week.
25:09Thank you to all of our law enforcement officers across this great country who work to keep our communities safe.
25:17And in particular, thank you to the women and men who put on the blue in the state of Nebraska.
25:24They face danger every day on our behalf, and they serve with courage.
25:30I believe that Nebraska's law enforcement is a model for the rest of the nation.
25:37Their professionalism, their diligence.
25:40And I'll use the example of the Omaha Police Department.
25:43The Omaha Police Department has a homicide clearance rate of 100%.
25:49This is a time when the national homicide clearance rate is under 60%.
25:58It's a testament to their excellence and dedication.
26:03Omaha has also seen its murder rate decline in each of the last four years.
26:08Many cities saw the crime rate go up during COVID.
26:11What we see in Omaha now is that murder rate coming down in our great city.
26:20In Nebraska, we back the blue.
26:23We support the women and men who protect our communities.
26:27It's one of the things I'm very proud of Nebraskans and the way they do this.
26:32We give them the tools, the training, and we have strong laws.
26:37In Omaha, we have a prosecutor, Don Klein, who prosecutes the criminals.
26:41We have a great police chief who enforces the law.
26:44And that's one of the reasons why we're able to bring down, for example, a murder rate.
26:48When I was governor, we passed one of the most comprehensive law enforcement and public safety packages
26:56in our state's history.
26:58We were able to create hiring bonuses for our police departments to be able to help attract and retain law enforcement officers.
27:06We increased the educational benefits, the retirement benefits.
27:11We invested in our law enforcement training center to be able to do a better job training our officers.
27:17And we invested in our crime lab to be able to help our law enforcement agencies solve those crimes
27:25and be able to provide that justice to the victims of crime.
27:32All this is because we in Nebraska support the blue.
27:38Americans want this Congress to support our law enforcement officers as well, just like we do in Nebraska.
27:48I'm also very proud of the work our law enforcement did when we had the southern border crisis under Biden.
27:57Joe Biden's lack of attention and terrible policies led to a flood of illegal drugs coming across our southern border.
28:07Law enforcement agencies like the Nebraska State Patrol stepped up to be able to interdict those drugs.
28:14In fact, in my last year as governor, the Nebraska State Patrol was able to take off the streets twice as much methamphetamine,
28:24three times as much fentanyl, and ten times as much cocaine as they had done just two years prior
28:30because of the open border policies of the Biden administration and what that allowed for those illegal drugs again.
28:36But our law enforcement stepped up to be able to keep our communities safe.
28:43Here in the U.S. Congress, this year, we passed the Halt Fentanyl Act.
28:48That will create stronger penalties and make sure that fentanyl is listed as a Schedule I drug.
28:57When you have stronger penalties, you're going to have tougher sentencing and less fentanyl on your streets.
29:05That's important because we in Nebraska have seen the tragedies of fentanyl overdoses.
29:11Taryn Lee Griffith was a young mom whose life was taken because she took a pill that was laced with fentanyl.
29:20These are the stories that we want to end.
29:24We've got to make sure our young people are not being killed by the scourge of fentanyl.
29:29I'm continuing to work with President Trump to secure our border to give some relief to our law enforcement officers across this country
29:37so that they don't have to continue to see stories and tragedies like Taryn Lee Griffith.
29:44We've got to make sure we're supporting our law enforcement officers.
29:49I will continue to fight to give our law enforcement officers the tools they need.
29:55I co-led the Back the Blue Act, which would increase the penalties for those criminals who are targeting law enforcement officers
30:03and give law enforcement other tools to protect themselves.
30:06My colleague from North Dakota was just talking about the Thin Blue Line Act.
30:13I'm a co-sponsor of that as well. Senator Cruz introduced that bill.
30:20We need to make sure we in the Congress are doing what we can to support our law enforcement officers.
30:28During this police week, we also recognize those officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
30:37Ross Bartlett was a police officer from Seresco, Nebraska, the Seresco, Nebraska Police Department.
30:46He lost his life in the line of duty.
30:50His cruiser was rammed by a driver who allegedly was distracted while texting and came into the shoulder.
31:00He was killed last year.
31:03This week, his family is in Washington, D.C. as part of police week.
31:09And they rented an Airbnb in Maryland.
31:14When the owner of that Airbnb discovered why they were here, and by the way, that owner is a Capitol Police officer.
31:24When that Capitol Police officer found out why they were there, he comped their entire state this week at that Airbnb.
31:32That's the demonstration of the brotherhood and sisterhood among law enforcement officers.
31:37And it's one of the stories that all too often gets overlooked of how our law enforcement officers take care of each other as well as take care of our communities.
31:51We recognize the loss of the Bartlett family and honor Ross Bartlett for his service and sacrifice to the community of Seresco and our state of Nebraska.
32:04During police week, I encourage everyone in Nebraska across the country to say thank you to our law enforcement officers.
32:16These women and men who protect our communities sacrifice much for us.
32:22Say thank you this week and every week throughout the year.
32:27And recognize and honor what they do for us.
32:31Mr. President, I yield back.