Political Quotes

“I rise today to introduce the National Blue Alert Act of 2013. Every day, more than 900,000 Federal, State and local law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. Unfortunately these officers can become targets for criminals and those seeking to evade our justice system, and we must make sure our officers have all the tools they need to protect themselves and each other. Each year thousands of law enforcement officers are assaulted while performing their duties and dozens lose their lives. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, 72 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2011. This is an unacceptable level of violence against our law enforcement officers, and we must act now to better protect them. This is why I am introducing the National Blue Alert Act of 2013 today, and thank Senators Graham, Leahy, Klobuchar, Boxer, Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Heitkamp, and Durbin for joining me as co-sponsors of this important legislation. The Blue Alert system provides for rapid dissemination of information about criminal suspects who have injured or killed law enforcement officers. The Blue Alert system would only be used in the case of the death or serious injury of a law enforcement officer, where the suspect has not been apprehended, and where there is sufficient descriptive information of the suspect and any vehicles involved.…”