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[Pages S2879-S2880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 613--CALLING FOR JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD AND
OPPOSING CALLS TO DEFUND THE POLICE
Mr. COTTON (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Cruz, Ms.
Ernst, Mr. McConnell, Ms. McSally, Mr. Toomey, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cramer,
Mr. Hawley, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Lee, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Tillis,
Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Daines, Mr. Moran, Mr. Rounds,
Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Graham, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Scott of
South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 613
Whereas a free society depends on the rule of law, which is
the foundation for the preservation of public order, peace,
and individual rights;
Whereas the United States has a troubled history of racism
that includes slavery, the terror of lynch mobs, segregation,
and Jim Crow, and that history leaves the United States with
important work to accomplish;
Whereas the just and unbiased enforcement of the rule of
law and the protection of innocent individuals against
lawbreakers is the essential function of government at the
local, State, and Federal levels;
Whereas the law enforcement profession is inherently
dangerous, and police officers risk their lives every day;
Whereas, in 2019, 89 Federal, State, local, and Tribal law
enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty;
Whereas law enforcement officers are entrusted by the
public to uphold the law;
Whereas law enforcement officers who abuse their positions,
engage in corruption, employ excessive force, or exhibit bias
betray the public trust and undermine the rule of law;
Whereas the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, at the
hands of law enforcement was a horrific act that violated the
public trust and was inconsistent with the values and conduct
expected of law enforcement officers;
Whereas the law enforcement officers involved in the
killing of George Floyd have been terminated from their
positions and charged with crimes relating to their conduct
and their contribution to the death of George Floyd;
Whereas good law enforcement cannot exist without
accountability and justice;
Whereas understaffed police departments and undertrained
police officers increase the risk of encounters that result
in the use of force, including unjustifiable or excessive
force; and
Whereas defunding the police would leave police departments
understaffed and undertrained, while also increasing the risk
of violent crime to the communities of the United States,
especially vulnerable communities: Now, therefore, be it
[[Page S2880]]
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) calls for justice for George Floyd; and
(2) opposes efforts to defund the police.
____________________
