Mike Johnson

I think that is true, but I want to acknowledge here that the objective facts, if we review the objective facts, I think the largest headwind is inescapably the reaction that DOD took to COVID.

Requiring young men and women to take the vaccine has disqualified a huge portion of the population from military service.

I have urged the Biden Administration myself, Madam Chair, to correct that error in the rulemaking process by specifically directing a portion of that funding to local police departments and have gotten zero response.

I wanted to enter into the record a list that our Committee put together of Democrat-led cities that have defunded the police with a total of $1.66 billion cut.

In your opinion, will stripping law enforcement officers of qualified immunity hurt recruitment efforts, especially, specifically, in rural areas?

Of course, they do, sir. Yes, sir.

I certainly don't disagree with his observations as a sitting judge and an appellate judge.

I think you need to look at the facts by piercing those statistics that you have suggesting broad definitions.

Yes, Representative Owens, it would.

That's what I--and I don't want to step out of my lane talking for the sheriffs and the chiefs, but--

This is not rocket science. We need to apply common sense here.

Qualified immunity is one facet of a public campaign in some ways to demonize the police.

They want ethical, honest, and diligent police officers. They want police officers. They want public safety.

Public safety is the primary value without which nothing else in a community can happen.

I will tell you that it has been a position of Members on this Committee whom I quoted earlier who have wanted to defend the police.

Revising the qualified immunity doctrine is a step in the right direction.

We cannot turn a willful blind eye to that fact.

I mean, that is just nonsense.

This doesn't really require much analysis. It's a very common-sense solution to a real problem.

The denial of justice in those kinds of circumstances due to this doctrine of qualified immunity is an injustice.

The effect of that on morale is very detrimental. The effect of that is bad for public safety.

We are the greatest nation in the history of the world and the only way that we will continue that, maintain that, is if we back the blue.

We should discuss ways that we can further support our police officers.

The Democrats in charge made sure that that bill was dead on arrival.

We need police officers, and we must maintain law and order.