Senate Democrat Continues to Hold Up Bipartisan Law Enforcement Resources

WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Judiciary Committee member Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) requested unanimous passage of five bipartisan law enforcement bills, which were passed out of the Judiciary Committee by unanimous voice vote during Police Week in May.

In response to Schmitt's request for unanimous consent, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) once again objected to the bipartisan package, preventing critical resources from reaching local law enforcement. Booker has now blocked the bills' passage twice in an effort to force federal dollars to sanctuary cities that violate federal immigration law and withhold information from federal law enforcement agencies.

The bipartisan bills aim to expand mental health resources for law enforcement, combat child sexual exploitation online, protect officers from accidental exposure and address staffing shortages.

"Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. It's absurd that bipartisan legislation to support our nation's brave men and women in blue is being held up in Congress because of political games," Judicairy Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said. "Just this week, the Judiciary Committee heard from a local Washington, D.C. police officer about the disconnect between lawmakers and law enforcement. The officer called on Congress to 'work with law enforcement instead of against us.'

"The politicking displayed today is the reason why so many local law enforcement officers across the nation feel left behind and used by Washington. Republicans will continue to back the blue and aggressively push to get these commonsense bills across the finish line," Grassley continued.

The five law enforcement bills blocked today include:

• The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act to protect officers and first responders against accidental exposure to dangerous substances;
• The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act to address law enforcement staffing shortages;
• The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act to expand mental health resources for law enforcement officers;
• The Strong Communities Act to boost law enforcement recruitment and retention; and
• The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act to aid state and local law enforcement agencies in combating child sexual exploitation online.

Video and a transcript of Schmitt's unanimous consent request is available HERE.

Background:

During National Police Week this May, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the largest bipartisan Police Week package in 15 years by a voice vote.

In July, Grassley joined Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to request unanimous passage of seven of the Police Week bills. Booker objected to Cortez Masto and Grassley's request to pass the law enforcement package, demanding federal dollars be sent to cities that violate federal immigration law. In response to Booker's objection, Cortez Masto requested unanimous passage of two of the Police Week bills, including the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act and the Improving Police CARE Act. Booker allowed these bills to pass, but blocked the five remaining Police Week bills.

In response to Booker's first objection, Democratic Senators Cortez Masto and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) called out the ongoing blockade, stating, "You can't do one thing on Police Week, and not show up and not object, and let these bills go through - and then say another [thing] in a big speech on the floor."

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