House passes policing bills as GOP seeks to highlight crime as campaign issue

The House on Wednesday passed a trio of bills aimed at supporting law enforcement during National Police Week — legislation widely opposed by Democrats, while leaders on the left condemned the GOP’s attempts to downplay the events of September 6. January 2021.

Consideration of the three bills — which face little chance of passing in the Democratic-controlled Senate — is part of Republicans’ efforts to highlight crime, which has emerged as a key issue for voters ahead of the November elections and a key vulnerability for President Biden. as he seeks another term in the White House.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and GOP leadership held a press conference Wednesday morning alongside two law enforcement officials, underscoring the importance of supporting the men and women in blue, while time that they accused Democrats – especially the Biden administration – of adopting a “pro-crime, anti-law enforcement agenda.”

“This National Police Week, House Republicans will neutralize Democrats’ pro-crime, anti-police agenda by bringing to the floor seven bills that support law enforcement in our country and give them the resources they need to maintain our communities safe,” said the House majority. Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).

Democrats quickly rejected the notion that they are soft on crime.

Asked about the Police Week bills that will be considered this week, Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), chairman of the Democratic caucus, said members on his side “want to try to work with our colleagues to get things done” on reform. police officer, but the tendency of some Republicans to defend the Jan. 6 rioters at the Capitol has challenged that cooperation.

“It’s a little more difficult when they want to try to cover up what happened [on Jan. 6]when they will support some authorities but not others,” Aguilar told reporters at the Capitol.

Underscoring this dynamic, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who served on the select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack, wrote a letter to Johnson last week asking about the delay in installing a plaque at the Capitol honoring him. the authorities. officers who defended the building on January 6.

Congress approved the sign’s enactment in March 2022—under the leadership of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)—as part of the government’s fiscal year 2022 funding bill. The Capitol Architect had placed the sign on the west side of the Capitol by March 2023, a deadline that was not met.

“I urge the Council to take immediate action to address this oversight and ensure the sign is promptly installed in accordance with the law,” she wrote.

Aguilar called the delay “disappointing.”

“That doesn’t stop us… from trying every day to work with our colleagues to get things done. But…it clearly shapes our perspective here,” he added.

Rep. Ted Lieu (Calif.), vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, criticized Republican leaders for passing a series of bills that have virtually no chance of becoming law, arguing that Republicans are more concerned about dividing Democrats than in assisting law enforcement.

“What we are seeing at the Republican conference is a series of messaging bills on a variety of topics, none of which will pass the U.S. Senate,” Lieu said.

Two of the bills were widely opposed by Democrats, with the majority of the caucus voting “no.” The first, titled the Detention and Deportation of Illegal Aliens Who Assault Police Officers Act, which requires the detention of undocumented immigrants who assault law enforcement officers, was approved by 265 votes to 148.

The second, called the D.C. Crime Bill, would reduce D.C.’s youthful offender status to those under 18 and prevent the city council from changing its sentencing laws. It was approved by 225 votes to 181.

The third of the group, however, received overwhelming bipartisan support – 356-55 – with 149 Democrats voting “yes,” including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) and his leadership team. The legislation, dubbed the Improving Law Enforcement Safety and Wellbeing Through Data Act, would require the attorney general to file a report on violent attacks against police officers.

“Our police officers keep us safe. They risked their lives to do this and we are forever in their debt,” Johnson said Wednesday. “And these gestures and these pieces of legislation that we passed this week are the least we can do to support them.”

Mike Lillis contributed.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story