Morris Leader

Washington, D.C.– Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement in response to May 18 Republican messaging resolution:

“In numerous meetings with my friends in law enforcement, officers and organization leaders have presented me with multiple pieces of legislation that would improve public safety and benefit officers, which I have cosponsored. I have introduced bipartisan bills to equip police officers with the tools they need to do their job, and just this year, I specifically requested $3 million for local departments in Morris and Essex Counties to address their needs. However, the GOP House majority chose to bring none of those proposals to the floor this year during Police Week. Instead of passing legislation to actually support and protect law enforcement officers, the House Republicans decided to focus on partisan messaging bills.

“Police officers throughout this country have the difficult job of keeping our communities safe. I saw firsthand the bravery of our law enforcement and the dangers of the job on January 6, 2021, as five officers died as a result of the attack on the United States Capitol by people seeking to undermine our democracy. 

“But Republicans in the House refuse to address this extremism and, in fact, leave federal law enforcement out of their messaging bill altogether. Instead, they have zeroed in on supposed ‘leftist activists’ who spent the summer of 2020 protesting for justice in the wake of the murders of Black people such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. 

“And while the GOP can keep trying to score partisan points promoting the ‘defund the police’ narrative, they know that Members like me have delivered millions of dollars of funding for local law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the resources they need, especially during the darkest days of the pandemic. Every House Republican voted against police funding in the American Rescue Plan. And now, House Republicans voted to slash federal law enforcement budgets, literally defunding the police. 

“As New Jerseyans know, by funding and supporting our police, we can ensure we have the nation’s most professional, well-respected force that both keeps our citizens safe and treats allmembers of our diverse community with the respect they deserve. 

“And as someone who knows firsthand how difficult and dangerous it can be to serve our country, and how any force is diminished by racism, sexism, and a lack of accountability and justice, I will always support our police and fight to make New Jersey a more equal, fair place to live."

Original source can be found here.