House approves measure condemning ‘calls to defund the police

The House approved a resolution Friday condemning “calls to defund the police,” taking aim at a rallying cry embraced by some progressives during the Black Lives Matter movement.

The House approved the four-page bill by a vote of 337-61, with all opponents being Democrats, many of them members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The non-binding resolution, which Republicans brought to the floor as part of their Police Week legislative push, denounces calls to defund the police, which they say are “increasing violence against law enforcement officers.” There is.

It also “expresses our condolences and solemn gratitude” to the loved ones of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and officers who have been assaulted, injured or disabled in the line of duty. recognizes the need for better data collection on Other provisions.

The resolution to “defund the police” was one of several law enforcement-related measures brought to the floor by House Republican leaders as part of Police Week. Republicans are seeking to shine a spotlight on crime, which has become a central theme of the 2024 election cycle and has emerged as a key weakness for President Biden, who is running for four more years in office.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference, said Wednesday that “under the failed leadership of Joe Biden and the far left, the safety of American law enforcement is at risk due to Democratic pro-crime policies.” “They have been sacrificed,” he said. . “Lawless liberals are hindering police performance through failed bail reform, like in my home state of New York, and pro-crime policies that appease the far left of the Democratic Party by defunding police policies.”

But many Democrats criticized the Police Week proposal as a messaging bill.

“Resolutions that mislead the public about violent crime rates, increase the availability of deadly weapons in our communities, or incite xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment will not make our communities safer. Not for our children, our most vulnerable neighbors, law enforcement, other first responders, or anyone else,” wrote Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri). statement Early this week.

The phrase “defund the police” was popularized by the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly after the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Black advocates argued that police departments are overfunded, allowing them to overpolice black communities.

For many advocates, defunding the police means reinvesting city and state funds from law enforcement to services such as mental health services and other first responders.

However, many opponents of the concept argued that the phrase demonized law enforcement. They also expressed concern that limiting police budgets would lead to the closure of police departments, which advocates said they do not want to see abolished.

Since the voice’s popularity soared, Republicans have capitalized on it, with Republican lawmakers using it as a way to make a case for Democrats and anti-law enforcement.

However, the House Democratic Party’s campaign arm, the Republican Research Committee (RSC), the largest conservative caucus in the House, budget proposal In March, he called for cutting funding to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, a federal program that funds various levels of law enforcement.

The RSC’s budget states: “Conservatives stand with our men, women and blues, but we must question whether the government should be involved in state and local law enforcement, even when it comes to funding.” ” is written.

“The federal government should not bail out cities that want to reduce their police budgets, so the RSC budget will support cuts to this program,” the budget adds.

Asked about that provision in the RSC budget, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), a former RSC chairman, said Wednesday, “I haven’t looked at the specifics of the RSC budget,” before shifting focus back to the RSC budget. Stated. Democratic Party.

“Many Democrats in the House are now trying to revise history, pretending and even saying they never supported defunding the police,” Johnson said. .