[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, in the final week of the 1980 Presidential 
campaign, former President Ronald Reagan posed an important question to 
voters: ``Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago?'' We 
don't have to wait until November to answer that same question today. 
The answer lies right outside this building.
  If you are not sure whether you are better off than you were 4 years 
ago, consider that last year, Washington, D.C., saw 274 homicides. That 
is the highest number in almost 30 years.
  Homicides are up 23 percent from 2019 in Chicago. In New York City, 
homicides are up 23 percent from 2019. Felony assault is up 35 percent. 
Car thefts have almost tripled. A record 5,363 NYPD officers were 
injured on the job last year. In major cities across this country, 
organized retail theft has claimed more than $112 billion in property, 
up from just $94 billion in 2021.
  There are two reasons for this, Madam Speaker: bad policy and bad 
messaging.
  House Republicans are committed to restoring law and order and 
opposing all efforts to defund the police and cracking down on rogue 
prosecutors who refuse to hold criminals accountable.
  We passed into law a bill to stop the D.C. Council's dangerous plan 
to change the criminal code. It would have ended mandatory minimums for 
many offenses and reduced maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking, 
and robbery.
  According to a recent article from The Washington Post, the D.C. 
Council is finally starting to reverse its position on these radical, 
progressive criminal reforms that it has been considering. It turns out 
that advocating for criminals isn't the best approach to stopping 
crime.
  D.C. lawmakers are also starting to see the damage caused by catch 
and release. If things keep moving in this direction, we might even 
begin to see those accused of violent personal crimes remain behind 
bars while they await trial.
  Last year, this city also experienced the worst officer shortage it 
has seen in 50 years. This is a direct result of the defund the police 
movement. It was more than a ridiculous slogan. It was a dangerous 
slogan that, unfortunately, garnered some traction around the country. 
It has become a cynical rallying cry, and I believe it is the reason 
law enforcement agencies across the country are having difficulty 
filling open positions.

  Another reason is, frankly, it is a more dangerous job today than it 
was a few short years ago. Last year, 378 officers were shot. Madam 
Speaker, 46 of them lost their lives. That is up 20 percent from 2020.
  So, no, we are not better off than we were 4 years ago, Madam 
Speaker. In fact, those who live and visit our Nation's Capital are not 
better off than they were just 2 years ago.
  House Republicans are proud to stand with the men and women who keep 
our communities safe. We are also committed to taking on the extreme 
policies of the Biden administration, including bail reform and our 
wide-open southern border.

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