Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) voted “Yes” on H.R. 2494, the POLICE Act of 2023, which makes assaulting a police officer by any person not a citizen or legal national of the United States a deportable offense and H.R. 3091, the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, which directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow law enforcement officers to buy retired service weapons.
“As the Biden Border Crisis rages on and Democrats in Congress denounce the police, it’s paramount our local law enforcement officers know they have our support,” said Rep. Rose. “On this National Police Week, Republicans in Congress are doing everything we can to support and defend those who protect and serve our communities. I am proud to support these common sense bills and will always support our local law enforcement officers—it’s a shame the majority of Democrats in Congress couldn’t join us.”
Background:
Currently, federal regulations require that service weapons be destroyed after they are retired from official use—making it impossible for police officers to purchase retired weapons. This results in a massive waste of taxpayer dollars as the weapons are an expense when they go into circulation and when they are retired. In fact, between fiscal years 2010 to 2017, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review found that federal law enforcement agencies reported spending at least $38.8 million on firearms.
Additionally, as President Biden’s border crisis worsens with the end of Title 42, law enforcement officers on the front lines are suffering the consequences. In March of this year, a female border patrol agent was violently assaulted by an illegal immigrant while making an arrest. In November, the FBI arrested two migrants who pushed, dragged, and punched a border patrol agent as they were attempting to cross the border illegally.
U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his third term representing Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-rep-rose-votes-yes-bills-supporting-local-law-enforcement