United States HCONRES 5: Expressing support for the Nation's law enforcement agencies and condemning any efforts to defund or dismantle law enforcement agencies.

Bill Text

IV
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 5
Expressing support for the Nation’s law enforcement agencies and
condemning any efforts to defund or dismantle law enforcement agencies.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 9, 2023
Mr. TIFFANY (for himself, Mrs. HINSON, Mr. FITZGERALD, Mr.
RESCHENTHALER, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. LANGWORTHY, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr.
JOYCE of Pennsylvania, Mr. WENSTRUP, and Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER)
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the Nation’s law enforcement agen-
cies and condemning any efforts to defund or dismantle
law enforcement agencies.
Whereas law enforcement officers protect the American peo-
ple from criminals who seek to perpetrate violence and
harm innocent lives regardless of the political cir-
cumstances of the day;
Whereas the brave men and women of the law enforcement
community continually summon the courage to fulfill
their solemn oath to ensure the safety of our commu-
nities and provide peace of mind for our Nation’s citi-
zens;
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•HCON 5 IH
Whereas America’s law enforcement community also seeks to
assist the communities they serve through a variety of
nontraditional means, including nonarrest pathways that
connect individuals with treatment and recovery pro-
grams to overcome addiction, and juvenile diversion pro-
grams to prevent minors from entering the criminal jus-
tice system;
Whereas supporting law enforcement officers with the equip-
ment, training, and funding necessary to serve our com-
munities and keep our streets safe has long been a bipar-
tisan issue;
Whereas law enforcement officers willingly face dangerous
circumstances and the threat of serious bodily injury or
death on a daily basis to ensure the safety of all Ameri-
cans;
Whereas the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Muse-
um’s 2021 Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report
detailed that 458 law enforcement officers were killed in
the line of duty in 2021, an increase of 55 percent from
the previous year, including 62 officers who were killed
in firearms-related incidents;
Whereas protests have been hijacked by violent extremists
seeking to sow discord, damage property, loot businesses,
and inflict harm against civilians and law enforcement of-
ficers;
Whereas law enforcement officers have been run over, shot,
hit with objects, and stabbed attempting to maintain
peace and the rule of law;
Whereas progressive politicians and interest groups have re-
sponded to this violence with calls to defund State and
local law enforcement agencies across the Nation;
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•HCON 5 IH
Whereas defunding or otherwise handcuffing law enforcement
officers will make officers less likely to intervene in dan-
gerous situations and will result in law enforcement pull-
ing back from the neighborhoods they are entrusted to
protect;
Whereas violent crime increases when law enforcement is
forced to withdraw from neighborhoods;
Whereas the vilification of the Nation’s law enforcement offi-
cers and the embracing of hateful rhetoric against these
brave men and women only places them further in harm’s
way;
Whereas these brave men and women must operate in an en-
vironment where their moral and legal authority is con-
stantly being scrutinized, and they undertake the critical
yet difficult task of addressing the actions of those af-
fected by addiction, homelessness, and mental illness; and
Whereas efforts to defund police departments will cause ir-
reparable and lasting damage to the Nation: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 1
concurring), That Congress— 2
(1) offers its sincere gratitude and appreciation 3
to the Nation’s law enforcement officers who protect 4
and serve our communities; 5
(2) recognizes the great sacrifice our law en-6
forcement officers make to keep the Nation safe; 7
and 8
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•HCON 5 IH
(3) rejects the misguided and dangerous efforts 1
to defund and dismantle the Nation’s State and local 2
law enforcement agencies. 3
Æ
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