During debate on the House floor, Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC) spoke in support of HR 2240, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act.
00:00Gentlemen, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Frye. I rise today in support of H.R. 2240, the Improving Law Enforcement Safety and Wellness Through Data Act, a bill that I introduced in response to the deeply troubling rise in targeted violence against our nation's law enforcement.
00:19Every day, officers across this great nation put their lives on the line to keep our community safe. And far too often, they, in fact, become the targets of violence simply for wearing the badge. This year alone, this year alone, again, we're only in May, there have been 109 officers shot in the line of duty, 12 of whom tragically lost their lives.
00:39Even more alarming, Mr. Speaker, there have been 21 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers this year, resulting in 25 officers shot, five of whom were killed.
00:51These numbers do not account, though, even for the many instances where officers were fired upon, but fortunately not struck.
00:57Ambush-style attacks are some of the most dangerous. They are calculated and often deadly, leading to higher rates of both injuries and fatalities.
01:05That's why I introduced this legislation to assure that we are doing all we can at the federal level to understand, to prevent, and respond to these targeted attacks.
01:14The Improving Law Enforcement Officers Safety and Wellness Through Data Act enhances our ability to collect and, more importantly, to analyze data on violent acts against officers.
01:25This will empower agencies around the country with the information that they need to strengthen their response and better protect their personnel.
01:32Importantly, HR 2240 also calls for a comprehensive assessment of availability and use of mental health resources within law enforcement because protecting those who protect us must include supporting their mental well-being.
01:48We need to make sure that we get away from any shame that can sometimes happen when a law enforcement officer needs to reach out for some kind of mental health counseling.
01:56If you think about it, these men and women see oftentimes the worst of folks.
02:01They see folks who are in their worst state.
02:02They see the tragedies that hopefully most of us will go through life and never have to see, and they do it every day, day in and day out, because it's their job that they have chosen to do to keep us safe.
02:15You know, these officers answer the call day or night.
02:18They don't have a choice as to what they respond to.
02:20They run toward danger to safeguard our neighborhoods, and far too often they pay a heavy price.
02:26We owe them more than our gratitude.
02:28We owe them action.
02:29And I'll say this.
02:30There were a couple comments about past events, some of which happened before I came here as a new member.
02:36But I do remember very well the spring of 2020 when we saw many of our cities burned, looted, destroyed, some of them that have not yet even recovered.
02:47And where instead of law enforcement being supported by some of those local governments, they were vilified when they were out doing what they could to try to help, when they were told to stand down and allow mobs to go in and destroy property.
02:59I saw that firsthand, Mr. Speaker, in Raleigh.
03:03I mean, I literally watched folks roaming around, destroying windows, burning vehicles, shooting, all this kind of mayhem.
03:11And then I saw some, you know, no names, but some on the other side that would kind of give cover and say, well, it was understandable.
03:19It was a peaceful protest.
03:20It's not a peaceful protest if you're destroying buildings.
03:23It's not a peaceful protest if you're attacking someone.
03:26It's not a peaceful protest, you know, if you're burning buildings, burning cars, engaging in violent contact.
03:32And then we saw from that, you know, some of this anti-police that came about, the defund the police.
03:37I am glad to see that I don't hear that very much anymore.
03:40I hope that foolish idea never gets raised again in this great chamber.
03:46Because if it were not for the men and women in law enforcement, it would be a society of disorder and just random violence.
03:54We owe these men and women all we can do for them.
03:57We owe them to make sure that their jobs are safe.
04:01I think about a situation, Mr. Speaker, that happened in Wake County, North Carolina in 2022,
04:07where a sheriff's deputy was ambushed and killed by an illegal immigrant, all right?
04:12Not trying to open up the debate on illegal immigration.
04:14Fortunately, this body has taken action, along with our president, to secure the border, to stop gang members from coming into this country.
04:22But someone who was in this country who shouldn't have even been here, attacked, ambushed a Wake County deputy and killed him.
04:29These stories happen around the country.
04:33So this is one more piece.
04:35One more piece in finally bringing some sanity, bringing some protection, you know, providing protection for the American people
04:42to make sure that they're not having to worry about gang members being allowed into the country.
04:47That we're not allowing illegal immigration to run amok.
04:51That we're not, you know, downing the police and somehow lifting up the criminals.
04:55The American people were tired of that.
04:57They were tired of it.
04:58And guess what?
04:59They're getting results.
05:00This is one more piece to try to do this, to help these men and women in law enforcement.
05:05And I appreciate the body's support.
05:07I encourage all the members to vote for it.
05:09With that, I yield back to the gentleman from South Carolina.