Biden Weakness on the World Stage

Floor Speech

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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.

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