On the recordMay 15, 2023
I appreciate this time as we have our bipartisan Special Order hour to honor law enforcement officers all across America to talk about our back the blue. This evening, as we begin, I am joined by so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who truly do support our law enforcement community. We are here to celebrate the lives and also honor the deaths of many of these officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Madam Speaker, as a career law enforcement officer, I know what our officers go through every day when they put on their uniforms, say good-bye to their families, and head out to do the important work of protecting their communities. They step into that breach between the good citizens that they have sworn to protect and that criminal element out there that would do them harm. Unfortunately, over the last few years, we have seen an uptick in violence specifically directed at law enforcement officers, especially in the form of ambush-style attacks. These violent attacks have been fueled by antipolice rhetoric, which has left our officers demoralized and delegitimized. In fact, according to the National Fraternal Order of Police, just this year, just in 2023 so far, 135 officers have been shot, 15 of those killed by gunfire. The number of officers shot in the line of duty is up 52 percent from this time 3 years ago. Madam Speaker, there have been 38 ambush-style attacks on police officers, 38. In these attacks, 43 police officers have been shot.…
