In honor of National Police Week, House Republicans continued to support America’s law enforcement officers by passing many pieces of legislation to improve officer safety and help those who protect our communities. Last week, the House Judiciary Committee held a markup to consider a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. It was a pleasure meeting with constituents and organizations in our Nation’s capital. As we head into our fourth consecutive week of session, I will continue fighting for the good people of Virginia’s Sixth District up in Washington.
BACK THE BLUE
As we celebrated National Police Week last week, I was proud to honor our brave men and women in law enforcement in the Sixth District and across the country who selflessly put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. Our officers are on the front lines in times of crisis and to ensure we are protecting them, I proudly joined my colleagues in passing legislation that supports them.
Deporting Illegal Immigrants Who Attack Law Enforcement
Biden’s open border policies have sent a clear message to the world: our borders are wide open—even to those who commit crimes. This massive influx of illegal immigrants has turned every town into a border town, including Virginia’s Sixth District. Criminals crossing our borders have not only committed crimes against our communities but also against our law enforcement officers, only to be released back into our neighborhoods. Currently, over 615,000 illegal immigrants on the ICE non-detained docket are pending criminal charges or have been convicted of crimes, freely roaming in our communities. This is unacceptable.
Last week, House Republicans passed H. R. 7343, the Removing Migrants Who Assault Police From Our Streets bill. This legislation ensures that illegal aliens who assault law enforcement officers are swiftly arrested and detained by ICE until they are removed from the United States. While Biden continues to disregard the safety of the American people, House Republicans are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our communities and our law enforcement officers.
Requiring A Report On The Border Crisis’ Impact On Law Enforcement
Every day, our brave law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities, but President Biden’s failed border policies have made their jobs much harder. By neglecting to enforce border laws and refusing to remove criminal illegal aliens, Biden has allowed the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. to skyrocket. Deportations of criminal illegal immigrants have drastically declined under his watch, with 41 percent fewer deported in 2023 compared to 2020.
Our dedicated law enforcement officers are bearing the brunt of the dangerous consequences of the border crisis, from the fentanyl crisis to gang violence. That’s why we passed H.R. 8146, the Police Our Border Act, which requires the Attorney General to report detailed information on how Biden’s border crisis is impacting law enforcement and public safety. This legislation demands accountability from this Administration as Biden’s border crisis rages.
Expanding Concealed Carry Rights For Qualified Law Enforcement
The Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) allows qualified active or retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms. However, a number of exceptions, including bans on carrying a concealed firearm on certain local, state, and federal property and in school zones, create bureaucratic red tape and can impede both qualified and retired law enforcement officers from helping keep our communities safe.
By expanding LEOSA to cut through these burdensome regulations, we can ensure officers’ ability to protect both themselves and our neighborhoods. House Republicans passed H.R. 354, the LEOSA Reform Act of 2024, which aims to broaden the ability for these officers to carry concealed firearms.
Combating Violent Crime Against Law Enforcement
Over recent years, the Left’s radical rhetoric and policies have emboldened anti-police sentiments and made our communities less safe. In 2022, 64 officers were tragically killed in the line of duty, with 30 percent falling victim to unprovoked ambushes or attacks.
As police face violent crime and staff shortages, we’re seeing agencies struggle to protect our streets and communities. We need to support the brave men and women who risk their lives daily, not pass soft-on-crime legislation. That’s why the House passed H.R. 7581, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act of 2024, to require the Attorney General to assemble reports that will improve data collection on violence against police and the effectiveness of programs and equipment meant to enhance officer wellness and safety. We must ensure we are doing everything in our power to protect those who protect us.
Recommending Attorney General Garland Be Held in Contempt of Congress
As many of you are aware, the Department of Justice under the leadership of Attorney General Merrick Garland has become weaponized and Americans are losing trust in our justice system. We have seen the Department of Justice turn a blind eye to the Biden family’s corruption, target Catholics for their faith, label concerned parents as “domestic terrorists,” and the DOJ Attorney General Merrick Garland has blatantly defied a subpoena to release the Special Counsel Robert Hur interview recording with Biden about his withholding of classified documents.
During a Judiciary Committee markup last week, we passed a resolution and an accompanying report recommending that the House of Representatives hold AG Garland in contempt of Congress for defying a congressional subpoena for information about Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation on Biden’s mishandling of classified documents. This politicized abuse of power and two-tier justice system is unacceptable. The DOJ has a duty to uphold equal justice under the law, which is why House Republicans will keep working to end the weaponization of any federal law enforcement agency and hold this administration accountable. The American people deserve answers, accountability, and transparency from their government.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
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