“You all are the last line of defense against the lawlessness that threatens to tear our communities apart”
WASHINGTON — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) hosted a roundtable discussion during National Police Week with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials about how Congress can make sure police have the resources and support to keep our communities safe. The conversation focused on the lasting effects of the “Defund the Police” movement, recruitment challenges, the opioid crisis, mental health, human trafficking, and President Biden’s wide-open border.
Senator Tuberville was joined by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Rick Scott (R-FL).
The panel was moderated by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. The panelists who participated included former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, former Executive Director of the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Dean Kueter, Chief Counsel to Alabama Attorney General Katherine Robertson, Hoover Chief of Police Nick Derzis, and Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry.
Read excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch the full roundtable here.
TUBERVILLE: “The U.S. is experiencing a massive crime wave throughout our cities, driven by President Biden’s intentional border disaster. It’s no wonder we have had a historic number of retirements among law enforcement officers – and more difficulty than ever recruiting to the force.
To compensate, our police, sheriffs, state agencies, and prosecutors are working overtime to enforce our laws and protect our communities. The opioid crisis continues to devastate U.S. communities, fueled by fentanyl smuggled into the country, which is killing our kids and making cartels filthy rich.
What people don’t realize is that it isn’t just our federal officers along the border who are managing the fallout of the President’s failed and fallen policies. Our state and locals in every community across the country are dealing with drug and human trafficking, violent crime, and murders every single day.
You all are the last line of defense against the lawlessness that threatens to tear our communities and our country apart. […]
I think it is the consensus that when you lose your streets and when you lose your borders, you don’t have a country. And we’re very close to that. [There’s nobody to blame] other than the Biden administration. Our law enforcement tries – they are being underfunded. Our border is wide-open by design and there’s nobody [in the Biden administration] doing anything about it and people are dying every day unfortunately.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Tuberville believes that the dangerous anti-police, anti-American rhetoric from the left has demoralized law enforcement and made our communities more dangerous. He believes it is our responsibility not only to ensure law enforcement officers have the resources they need, but also to have their backs. Earlier this week, Sen. Tuberville recognized this week as National Police Week and paused to remember police who have been killed in the line of duty over the past year.
Sen. Tuberville recognized National Police Week last year by introducing the Back the Blue Act. The legislation would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves.
More information about Senator Tuberville’s work to protect, defend, and support law enforcement can be found below.
- Tuberville Supports “National Police Week” Resolution, Honors Fallen Officers
- Tuberville Introduces Back the Blue Act to Protect Officers, Recognizes National Police Week
- Tuberville Honors Fallen Alabama Law Enforcement After National Police Weekend
- WHAT ARE THEY SAYING: Support Grows for Tuberville’s Empowering Law Enforcement Act
- Tuberville Addresses Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police Conference
- Tuberville: America’s Law Enforcement Need More Support, Not Less
- Tuberville: All Senate Democrats Pounce at Chance to Distance Themselves from ‘Defund Police’ Rhetoric
- Tuberville, Colleagues Resolution to Commemorate National Police Week Passes Senate
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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