The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved three bills aimed at supporting law enforcement during National Police Week, but the bills came after left-wing leaders accused Republicans of trying to downplay the events of January 6, 2021. was largely opposed by the Democratic Party.
Consideration of three bills that are highly unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate is a central issue for voters ahead of the November election, and crime has emerged as a key weakness for President Biden. It’s part of a Republican effort to focus on He is seeking another term in the White House.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Republican leaders held a press conference Wednesday morning with two law enforcement officials to emphasize the importance of standing with the men and women in blue. He accused the Democratic Party, especially the Biden administration, of “adopting a pro-life policy.” -Criminal, anti-law enforcement agenda. ”
“During National Police Week this year, House Republicans will continue to support Democratic criminal law by bringing to the floor seven bills that will support our nation’s law enforcement agencies and provide them with the resources they need to keep our communities safe.” will counter pro-anti-police policies,” the House majority said. Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota).
Democrats were quick to reject the idea that they were soft on crime.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, R-Calif., chairman of the Democratic caucus, was asked about the Police Week bill, which will be debated this week, and said lawmakers on the aisle “want to work with their colleagues to get things done.” Stated. But some Republicans have tended to defend the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, raising questions about their cooperation.
“If they try to cover up what happened, it becomes a little harder. [on Jan. 6]They will cooperate with some law enforcement agencies, but not with others,” Aguilar told reporters at the Capitol.
Underscoring this dynamic, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who served on the special committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, last week erected a plaque at the Capitol honoring law enforcement. wrote to Mr. Johnson regarding the delay. Police officers guarded the building on January 6th.
Congress approved the shield in March 2022 under the leadership of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as part of the 2022 Government Funding Act. The provision required the Capitol architect to install a plaque on the west side of the building by March 2023, but that deadline was not met.
“We urge the House to take immediate action to address this oversight and ensure that the plaque is promptly installed in accordance with the law,” she wrote.
Aguilar called the delay “unfortunate.”
“That doesn’t mean we strive every day to collaborate with our colleagues to get the job done. But…obviously, that’s what shapes our perspective here,” he added.
Rep. Ted Lieu (Calif.), vice chairman of the Democratic caucus, criticized Republican leaders for passing a series of bills with virtually no chance of passing, saying Republicans should support law enforcement. He said he was more concerned about dividing the Democratic Party.
“What we’re seeing in the Republican conference is a series of messaging bills on a variety of topics, none of which are expected to pass the U.S. Senate,” Lieu said.
Two of the bills were widely opposed by Democrats, with a majority of the caucus voting “no.” The first bill, titled the “Detention and Deportation of Illegal Aliens Who Assaults Police Officers Act,” calls for the detention of illegal immigrants who assault law enforcement officers, and passed by a vote of 265 to 148. .
The second, called the D.C. Crime Act, would lower the status of juvenile offenders in D.C. to those under 18 and block the City Council from changing its sentencing laws. It was approved by a vote of 225-181.
But the third party in the group received overwhelming bipartisan support, 356-55, with 149 Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and his leadership team, voting Voted “Yes”. The bill, called the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Health Through Data Act, would require the attorney general to submit reports on violent attacks against law enforcement officers.
“Law enforcement officers keep us safe. They put their lives on the line to do this job, and we are forever in debt,” Johnson said Wednesday. “And these actions and these bills that we passed this week are the least we can do to help them.”
Contributed by Mike Lillis.
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