Trent Kelly: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. This amendment is a remedy that has no current or no historical problems. It is a…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. This amendment is a remedy that has no current or no historical problems. It is a remedy in search of a solution. We debated this in the Armed Services Committee. This goes a step further. It defines what Federal law enforcement is, in direct opposition of what is already defined by the Department of Justice. There is a place and time for this debate, but it is not today. It is not well thought out enough. It doesn't cover local and State officials under the Insurrection Act, like Mr. Mitchell's son probably, unless he is a Federal law enforcement officer. It doesn't cover Federal employees. It is just not well thought out, and right now, this is not a problem that needs to be addressed. There are more important issues that we have right now than what we think the President might do. Don't get me wrong. We had the same debate last year when there was no talk of the Insurrection Act by the President. This is just a way to shut down what our National Guard and what our Presidential authorities are because we don't like this President. Well, guess what. It applies to all Presidents, all those in the future. This is bad law, and it is a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that does not exist.”