Tomorrow, January 9, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, but especially tomorrow, we offer our gratitude to our country’s men and women [in blue].
When you meet one of them you should say, “Thank you for keeping the peace.”
With President Trump’s support, law enforcement nationwide is making America safer. This year, violent crime is down 12% and murders across our major cities are down 20%.
Record amounts of dangerous drugs like fentanyl, meth, cocaine and heroin have been seized and, thankfully, are off our streets thanks to the hard work of law enforcement’s very courageous work.
I am proud to back the blue and also grateful for their work to maintain the peace.
As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee this year, I’ve continued my work to support law enforcement in Iowa and nationwide.
In that role, I worked with Senate Republicans and the White House on the Working Families Tax Cut[s] law, which secured historic support for the Byrne JAG and COPS programs for local police, as well as efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Additionally, four bipartisan bills the Judiciary Committee passed during Police Week in May became law with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
These new laws will expand access to federal support for law enforcement and their families, and help state and local law enforcement combat online child exploitation.
The NDAA also expanded counter-drone authorities for state and local law enforcement agencies, using language that was based on legislation I worked on in a bipartisan way with the senior senator from Michigan.
We should all look forward, but I want you to know that I look forward, to working further with my colleagues this year to support police in a bipartisan way, and we’re very fortunate that this type of legislation is mostly bipartisan in the Congress.
To all those who have selflessly answered the call to keep our communities safe, I say thank you.
May God bless you and may God protect you as you go about your work protecting the American people.
