[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H1010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   BIDEN WEAKNESS ON THE WORLD STAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, there are real concerns throughout our 
Nation about the violence in our streets. There has been a failed 
social experiment on the part of the left that has resulted in high 
levels of crime.
  Leftwing officials, Mr. Speaker, have defunded and discredited police 
forces across the country, as well as appointed liberal prosecutors who 
are not prosecuting.
  The facts don't lie. Here in Washington, D.C., the city has cut $100 
million from the Metro PD's $600 million budget since 2017, and the 
prosecution rate of arrests in the Nation's Capital has been around 30 
percent in recent years. Whereas a short time ago, it was upwards, near 
70 percent. Therefore, it should be no surprise that violent crime is 
soaring in Washington, D.C.
  Carjackings, for instance, were up more than 100 percent from last 
year, which was at an all-time high. Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, 
they are all the same. Crime has gotten so out of hand in New York 
City, the Governor just deployed 1,000 National Guardsmen to help 
secure the subway system.
  However, it is not just in the cities. Radical ideology has expanded 
into the suburban communities, and crime has come along with it. Just 
this week, I met with members of the Fraternal Order of Police. They 
shared with me their concerns about the rising antipolice sentiment and 
detailed the skyrocketing violence against law enforcement officers.
  Last year, Mr. Speaker, tragically, 378 police officers were shot in 
the line of duty, 46 of whom were killed, and this was up from 323 
officers shot in 2022. It is disgraceful.
  One piece of legislation to address these issues is my Holding 
Prosecutors Accountable Act, which has been endorsed by the National 
Police Association. It would force ideological prosecutors to do their 
jobs by mandating they prosecute at least 67 percent of violent crimes. 
If they don't, their jurisdiction will lose access to Federal DOJ grant 
funding.
  It would also require prosecutors' offices that serve highly 
populated jurisdictions to publish their prosecution rate data. 
Americans deserve to know if their elected prosecutor is deliberately 
releasing violent criminals back onto the streets.
  Additionally, Mr. Speaker, this ideological social experiment starts 
at the top. Joe Biden and Vice President Harris have not shown support 
for law enforcement. It is that simple. Just look at their criticism of 
the border agents that were on horseback, who they accused of whipping 
migrants, despite knowing that that was categorically false.
  These border agents were doing their jobs. There was no whipping that 
took place, and when the truth finally came out, there was no apology 
from the White House. Also, when Vice President Harris had the 
opportunity to disavow the defund the police movement during an 
interview on ``The View,'' she refused to answer, showing an utter lack 
of support for the brave men and women who protect and serve our 
communities.
  This is, Mr. Speaker, in stark contrast from the former President, 
who would speak strongly in favor of police officers and backing the 
blue. President Trump sent a clear pro law enforcement message, but 
now, under President Biden, we are dealing with rampant smash-and-grab 
situations, crimes, migrant crime due to our open borders, out-of-
control violence in our streets, and gangs riding around on dirt bikes 
victimizing innocent citizens and small businesses.
  We have a serious issue before us that has been created over the last 
3 years. Therefore, as a society and as elected officials, we need to 
come together to correct course, or the American people must elect 
those that will make national security and public safety job one.

  Mr. Speaker, under the past Trump administration, there was no 
invasion of Ukraine, there was peace in the Middle East, and there was 
less tension between China and Taiwan. As well, the terrorist state of 
Iran was defunded because of the strict sanctions on their oil exports.
  However, today, Biden's weaknesses on the world stage have plunged 
the world into chaos. We are now dealing with the horrific invasion by 
Putin into Ukraine. The Middle East went from peace to chaos, with 
hostage taking, massive slaughters, and death. Additionally, many parts 
of our neighboring country, Mexico, have turned into gangland due to 
the border policies from this administration.
  Further, our relationship with China is one of disrespect, not 
respect.
  Plus, Iran is now enormously well funded and responsible for the bulk 
of terrorism that exists worldwide, from Hezbollah to the Houthis to 
Hamas. Despite this, we have an administration that has an irrational 
affinity for gaining some sort of deal or agreement with the terrorist 
state of Iran.
  In addition, perhaps what is worse, Mr. Speaker, there is no plan to 
take corrective action. Once again, it is just more of the same, and my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle are asking the American 
taxpayer to fund the results of the Biden administration's disastrous 
geopolitical policies.
  As former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put it, this is an America 
that is on its back foot. Our friends don't trust us, and our 
adversaries insufficiently fear us.
  Mr. Speaker, I could not agree with him more.

                          ____________________