U.S. SENATOR KATIE BRITT, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE ‘BACK THE BLUE ACT’ DURING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and 37 Republican colleagues to introduce the Back the Blue Act as the country marks Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week.

This bill will strengthen existing laws that protect police officers, increase the criminal penalties for individuals who target law enforcement, and expand the tools that police can use to protect themselves.

In addition to Senators Britt and Cornyn, this legislation is cosponsored by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Mike Braun (R-Mo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N. Dak.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Deb Fischer (R-Nebr.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Thune (R-S. Dak.), John Hoeven (R-N. Dak.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

“Today, we honor the courageous law enforcement officers who have valiantly made the ultimate sacrifice. Every single day, the brave men and women of law enforcement go above and beyond to serve and protect our communities. It is essential that we not only support our police, but we respect the rule of law in our country. I’m proud to join Senator Cornyn and my colleagues in introducing the Back the Blue Act, and I will always stand with our police officers in Alabama and across the country,” Senator Britt said.

Senator Britt is also a cosponsor of Senator Braun’s Thin Blue Line Act, which expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in capital punishment determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

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