A resolution expressing support for the brave men and women of our law enforcement agencies and urging the people of the United States to "Back the Blue".

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 697 Expressing support for the brave men and women of our law enforcement agencies and urging the people of the United States to ‘‘Back the Blue’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. COTTON, Mrs. LOEFFLER, Ms. ERNST, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. PERDUE, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. DAINES, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. MCSALLY, and Mr. PORTMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing support for the brave men and women of our law enforcement agencies and urging the people of the United States to ‘‘Back the Blue’’. Whereas the cowardly attack on 2 Los Angeles County Sher- iff’s Department deputies on September 12, 2020, is the latest example of an alarming trend of targeted violence toward Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers; Whereas, as of September 11, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that 37 law enforcement officers have been feloniously killed in the United States in 2020, representing a more than 20-percent increase in law en- forcement homicides compared to the same period last year; VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:14 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR697.IS SR697 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 697 IS Whereas more than 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers in the United States perform innumerable daily acts of bravery and service for their communities that often go entirely unreported; Whereas radical politicians, reckless media figures, and orga- nized protest movements bent on sowing civil unrest have sought to vilify and denigrate the courageous men and women of our law enforcement agencies, while inciting, encouraging, or celebrating widespread criminal activity and violence against law enforcement officers; Whereas crime rates, including rates of violent crime, have dramatically risen in several cities across the United States as radical politicians pursue a dangerous cam- paign to ‘‘defund the police’’, starving law enforcement agencies of much-needed resources to combat the growing threat to their communities; Whereas maintaining law and order is fundamental to the safety, security, and prosperity of our communities; and Whereas now is the time to ‘‘Back the Blue’’, and express our full-throated support for the selfless work of our cou- rageous law enforcement officers who protect all law- abiding citizens against the threats posed by criminals and violent domestic groups interested in sowing chaos and destruction: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) expresses gratitude to the brave men and 2 women of our Federal, State, and local law enforce- 3 ment agencies who selflessly serve their commu- 4 nities; 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:14 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR697.IS SR697 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 697 IS (2) stands united to ‘‘Back the Blue’’ and sup- 1 port the law enforcement agencies and officers that 2 stand on the front lines every day to maintain law 3 and order so that our communities can prosper; 4 (3) condemns the perpetrators, instigators, and 5 celebrators of violence against law enforcement offi- 6 cers; and 7 (4) calls for the people of the United States 8 to— 9 (A) denounce the recent cowardly attack 10 on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Depart- 11 ment deputies; 12 (B) assist in the identification and appre- 13 hension of the criminal who perpetrated the 14 cowardly attack; and 15 (C) pray for the speedy and full recovery 16 of the deputies. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:14 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR697.IS SR697 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS