WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein along with 62 bipartisan colleagues today introduced a resolution to commemorate National Police Week.
“The men and women of law enforcement make great sacrifices every day to protect our families and fellow citizens. They do so freely, not out of a sense of obligation, but because they are dedicated to the cause of Justice. Their devotion merits our admiration and we are deeply indebted to them,” Grassley said.
“This week we honor the men and women who serve our communities and keep them safe. Our law enforcement officers have difficult jobs and are called on to respond to a wide range of challenges. This past year was a particularly painful one for law enforcement in California—12 officers were killed in the line of duty. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, colleagues and communities,” Feinstein said.
In 1962, President Kennedy signed a joint congressional resolution proclaiming the week of May 15 as National Police Week. The United States continues to celebrate Police Week 55 years later to honor the dedication and sacrifices of the men and women of American law enforcement.
The names of more than 20,000 fallen officers are etched on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in the nation's capital, forever marking their sacrifices for their communities. Last year, 143 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. This bipartisan resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that National Police Week provides an important opportunity to show strong support for law enforcement officers across the United States, recognize the need to ensure that law enforcement officers have the equipment, training, and resources necessary to protect their own safety and well-being, and acknowledge the selfless bravery and sacrifices undertaken by law enforcement officers in the United States.
Cosponsoring the resolution are Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Luther Strange (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tilis (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
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