05.12.26

Thune: Senate Republicans Work to Secure America

“Republicans have law enforcement’s back - and we will do everything that we can to ensure that they have all they need to keep our country, our border, and our communities safe.”

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Well, good afternoon, everyone.

“Most of us – or at least all of us here – and I think a lot of people this week are celebrating National Police Week.

“It’s the week when we honor those who serve us in law enforcement.

“And I think it’s safe to say that we need law enforcement officers in this country.

“We need them to apprehend violent criminals.

“We need them to keep our border safe.

“To ensure that our immigration laws are being enforced.

“To protect these buildings.

“We need law enforcement officers.

“Tragically, this calendar year already, there have been 38 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

“And so this is a week when we honor them and we express our gratitude and appreciation to them, and to their families, for all that law enforcement does in this country to keep our country and our communities safe.

“The Democrats, on the other hand, as has been very clear for some time, seem to be very comfortable with allowing this defund law enforcement, defund police movement with which they have been associated for some time now to continue.

“And have blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

“For ICE.

“For Customs and Border Patrol.

“The folks who keep our border safe and secure.

“And have been blocking it, now, for several months.

“And as a consequence, we will have to move forward – and we will next week – with the Secure America Act, which is a bill that will fund those critical law enforcement agencies and ensure that they’re funded not only today, but into the future through the duration of President Trump’s term.

“So, like I said, I think it’s shameful that we are even having to have a conversation like this, but we have a Democrat Party that has embraced the ideas of open borders and defunding the police.

“And as a consequence of that, we’re having to deal in a way that allows us to do this with Republican votes.

“Because Republicans have law enforcement’s back – and we will do everything that we can to ensure that they have all they need to keep our country, our border, and our communities safe.”