James Lankford

05/17/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/17/2022 09:26

Lankford, Cassidy, Colleagues Call on White House and Congress to Combat Crime

05.17.22

Lankford, Cassidy, Colleagues Call on White House and Congress to Combat Crime

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and their colleagues to introduce a resolution calling on the Biden Administration to work with Congress to develop a plan to combat the rise in crime and crisis at the southern border. The resolution comes as the nation honors National Police Week.

"Around the country, we're seeing violent crime like homicide, theft, arson, and vandalism dramatically increase while progressive leaders debate defunding the police. The Biden Administration is failing to address our wide open border where the cartels smuggle drugs and people into the United States every day," said Lankford. "We need to take action to hold criminals accountable and address lawlessness in our nation. During this Police Week, we thank our law enforcement officers and their families for their contributions and sacrifices. Their hard work on the front lines keeps us safe and reminds us that we have to always be vigilant to protect our families."

"If there was ever a time that the American people want to know that the president and Congress are working together to defeat the scourge of crime, the time is now. This resolution is to send the message that combating crime is what we are focused on," said Dr. Cassidy.

Lankford and Cassidy are joined by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Todd Young (R-IN).

Ahead of Police Week this week, Lankford reintroduced the Retirement Annuity Supplement Clarity Act, which addresses the way the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) calculates retirement annuity settlements for federal employees, primarily for federal law enforcement personnel, who have settlement agreements dividing their annuity. At a press conference earlier this year, Lankford pushed back on the Biden Administration's backward policies that are causing rising crime rates around our nation and how they affect our families and our law enforcement. Lankford pointed out in his remarks that, while President Biden and his Administration are being soft on crime and unsupportive of law enforcement, families of law enforcement officers in Oklahoma and Oklahomans around the state stand by law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day.

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