WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) announced growing support for their Restoring Law and Order Act introduced last week. The legislation will increase resources for law enforcement by establishing a federal grant program to target violent crime and improve the processing of rape kits.

Law enforcement and victims’ advocates are praising the push to keep violent criminals off the streets and put rapists behind bars faster:

Sheriff Eddie Farris, Putnam County, Tennessee, “Across certain areas of the country, crime has gotten out of control due to some crime prosecutors, judges, and calls to defund the police. Tennesseans back the blue and we must increase the resources law enforcement has in order to pursue violent criminals. I appreciate Senators Blackburn and Hagerty for introducing this legislation which will increase the resources my office has to pursue violent criminals, illegal immigrants committing crimes and help keep our citizens safer.” 

Sheriff John Fuson, Montgomery County, Tennessee, “Across the country law enforcement are increasingly responding to overwhelming numbers of drug overdoses; mostly due to access to the extremely potent and deadly drug fentanyl being mixed with other illegal narcotics. We are fighting this issue on multiple fronts now – the negative impact to our death investigation caseloads from drug overdose deaths and crime spawning out of thefts, burglaries, and violent assaults perpetrated by criminals either seeking or selling these vile drugs in our communities; their just two of those fronts we combat daily. Law enforcement, now more than ever, need continued support to insure we have the latest and most advanced technology and equipment, used by the most highly-trained and well-staffed force of sheriff’s deputies and police officers in the world. I commend our Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for introducing legislation that will keep our communities safe. I also commend their continued fight on the Federal level to secure our U.S. southern border, keeping the flood of violent criminal activity from entering our state and local communities in the first place.”

Brandon Judd, President, National Border Patrol Council, "The ongoing security and human catastrophe created by the Biden Administration at our Southern Border is beyond anything this country has ever seen. Because of Biden Administration policies, huge areas along our border have no Border Patrol Agents patrolling far too frequently. We need all the help we can get to detain and deport individuals who enter our country illegally. Thank you to Senators Blackburn and Hagerty for their continued leadership and their work to provide law enforcement the resources needed to keep America safe."

Sheriff Mark Lamb, Pinal County, Arizona, “Under President Biden, there have been nearly 3.6 million attempts to illegally cross our southern border and 78 suspected terrorists have been caught crossing just in 2022. Senator Blackburn and Hagerty’s legislation will help law enforcement across the country by increasing resources to combat violent crime and illegal immigrants. From departments that are forced to deal with the effects of Biden’s border crisis like mine in Pinal County, to those in big cities that deal with inner city crime. We need to be supporting police and keeping criminals in jail. I appreciate the Senators strong leadership and commitment to keeping Americans safe.”

Jennifer Harrison, Victims Rights NY, “The depraved indifference towards human life sweeping across our nation and amongst elected officials is unconscionable.  While people are losing their lives and are victimized daily as a direct result many of our so-called leaders want to still decrease support for police and release more violent criminals. Any act to increase support for law enforcement restoring law and order will help stop the bloodshed and prevent victimization. We welcome the Restoring Law and Order Act and thank Senators Blackburn and Hagerty for introducing it.”

Sheriff Jim Skinner, Collin County, Texas, Chairman National Sheriffs Association, Government Affairs Committee, “This bill is truly needed, especially given that crime rates are skyrocketing and many of our cities are in complete chaos.  Americans want their families to be safe and supporting law enforcement with this type of legislation is essential to accomplishing that objective.”

Sgt. Betsy Smith (ret.), Spokesperson National Police Association, “The left’s push to end cash bail and defund the police have made communities more dangerous. Violent criminals should be locked up behind bars, and police departments need a surge in funding to hire more officers focused on pursuing violent criminals. I appreciate Senators Blackburn and Hagerty for standing with our brave men and women in blue.”

RELATED

• Senators Blackburn and Hagerty recently sent President Biden a letter demanding swift action to eliminate soft-on-crime policies that embolden criminals. 

• Senators Blackburn and Hagerty held a press conference to discuss the need to keep violent criminals in jail and support law enforcement.

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