McCollum No Vote on H. Con. Res. 40
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Con. Res. 40.
I want to start by thanking law enforcement for all the work they do to keep our communities safe. Officers consistently put their lives on the line. Each year during National Police Week, I place a poster outside of my office honoring Minnesota’s fallen Law Enforcement officers.
In my work as an Appropriator, you know that I strongly support funding for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants and Byrne JAG Justice Assistance grants. These are funds that directly support local law enforcement. Law enforcement entities were prioritized in my FY22, FY23, and FY24 Community Project Funding requests, with $4,500,000 secured for Ramsey and Washington County law enforcement projects that are improving public safety in my home district.
Unfortunately, the House Republican majority’s resolution does not simply express support for our law enforcement. It also includes language explicitly polarizing and misleading in nature, referring only to “left-wing” extremists but failing to acknowledge the right-wing extremist violence that has proliferated in recent years. For example, the attack on our U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, that resulted in the deaths of five U.S. Capitol Police officers and lasting injuries for many more.
It is unfortunate that with this resolution, which should be focused on highlighting the important work law enforcement officers do every day, Republicans chose to use rhetoric to score political points with their base.
Thank you, and I yield back.