November 20, 2022

Dear John:

In January, we start the 118th Congress with the Republicans in the Majority. Republicans are committed to getting this country back on track, and one of the most important things we can do is remind this country of the importance of its law enforcement agents.

Unfortunately, especially over the last few years, we have seen what happens when police officers are painted as villains in our communities and what happens when there is less accountability for dangerous criminals. We have seen what happens when the “Defund the Police” agenda gains ground. Police officers are targeted and demoralized, leading to early retirements and a lack of recruitment, and of course all of that leads to an increase in crime. This is all happening before our eyes and I find myself constantly pushing back on a lot of efforts by my colleagues on the Left who want to see this pattern continue. There was even a point this Congress where my colleagues wanted to end qualified immunity. Morale is low and crime is increasing but somehow my colleagues still believed Washington should strip away police officers' ability to do their jobs effectively.

I had the chance to talk to some of the great law enforcement officers from across Minnesota during the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association meeting this week. There is nothing more valuable than hearing concerns and ideas for solutions directly from those affected. I have a strong relationship with members of the police force and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them as Republicans work to repair the damage that has been done.

Republicans have solutions and are eager to get to work. We intend to prioritize increasing the number of officers in the force through recruiting and retention bonuses. For example, earlier this year I introduced the Law Enforcement Education Grant Program Act that would provide education grants to students pursuing their first degree in a law enforcement or criminal justice-related field. The Social Security Fairness Act, of which I am a proud co-sponsor, is another big step work towards solving this problem. This bill would eliminate offsets in social security payments from eligible recipients who also receive a government pension. We have seen a horrific rise in assaults and killings of police officers, so we also need to do more to ensure these crimes are punished severely. That is why I am a co-sponsor of the Protect and Serve Act, which would create a penalty between 10 years and life in prison for knowingly assaulting a police officer. 

Maybe as importantly as any of these things, showing respect for our law enforcement needs to start at the top. Representatives in Washington need to set an example of respect for our laws and those who risk their lives every day to enforce those laws and protect our communities. Rest assured, the Republican majority in Congress will set that example.