Troy Nehls: “My amendment, which was rejected by the majority, calls for cities--think about this now--that have defunded their…”

“My amendment, which was rejected by the majority, calls for cities--think about this now--that have defunded their police forces from receiving Federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants for traffic enforcement. Look at Austin, look at Seattle, look at Oakland, look at New York, millions and millions of dollars being defunded from their local law enforcement agencies. They should not be eligible to apply for Federal grant funds in the millions of dollars after they have chosen to defund their own agencies. It makes no sense. Look at Oakland and look at the other cities today. Crime is on the rise. Violence in these liberal cities is out of control, and still, these cities continue to defund their police departments. They should not be allowed to tap into Federal grant moneys when they have chosen to defund their police. Madam Speaker, I cannot support such hypocrisy, and I will be voting against this bill. Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”