National Police Week

This week is National Police Week. It is an opportunity for us to recognize and express our appreciation for the law enforcement officers and first responders that put their lives on the line every day.

In honor of National Police Week, I joined my colleagues on the House floor to honor our law enforcement officers and those that selflessly sacrifice to protect us.

As the Chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee on Appropriations, funding our law enforcement agencies is one of my top priorities, which is why I included $2.4 billion in grant funding to support local law enforcement and victims of crime in the FY2017 omnibus. $22.5 million of that grant funding provides bulletproof vests for our state and local law enforcement agencies, and $15 million went to the VALOR Initiative and the POLICE Act. These grant funds provide tactical and skill training to law enforcement officers, and train police in active shooter situations. Additionally, I included $482 million for the Violence Against Women Act, which assists law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, and $72.5 million to assist law enforcement in handling missing and exploited children cases. As CJS Chairman, I will always insist that our nation’s law enforcement agencies are funded appropriately so they can adequately protect our communities.

In honor of National Police Week, the House passed several bills to honor our men and women in law enforcement:

• Thin Blue Line Act: This legislation adds the murder of a state or local police officer as an aggravating factor for a jury to consider in deciding whether to impose the death penalty in federal capital cases.
• American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017: This bill prioritizes hiring America’s veterans for law enforcement agencies that are awarded grants under the COPS Hiring program.
• Honoring Hometown Heroes Act: This legislation honors law enforcement officers by permitting the American flag to be flown at half-staff when a police officer, firefighter or first responder is killed in the line of duty.

Our police officers serve and protect without hesitation and they deserve our sincerest gratitude.

Thank you to all of Texas’ police, firefighters and first responders. It is an honor and privilege to represent you and Texas in the United States House.