Rep. Rose on Rising Crime: ‘No, We’re Not Better Off Than We Were Four Years Ago’

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) spoke on the House Floor Tuesday to highlight recent statistics surrounding violent crime in the major cities across the country under the Biden Administration.  

The full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:  

Madam Speaker, in the final week of the 1980 presidential campaign, former President Ronald Reagan posed an important question to voters: are you better off than you were four years ago? We don’t have to wait for November to answer that same question today. The answer is right outside this building.

If you’re not sure whether you’re better off than you were four years ago, consider that last year Washington, D.C. saw 274 homicides. That’s the highest number in almost 30 years.

Homicides are up 23% from 2019 in Chicago. In New York City, homicides are up 23% from 2019. Felony assault is up 35%. Car thefts have almost tripled. And a record 5,363 NYPD officers were injured on the job last year. In major cities across the country, organized retail theft has claimed more than $112 billion in property, up from $94 billion in 2021. There are two reasons for this, Madam speaker, bad policy and bad messaging.

House Republicans are committed to restoring law and order, opposing all efforts to defund the police, and cracking down on rogue prosecutors who refuse to hold violent criminals accountable.

We passed into law a bill to stop DC Council’s dangerous plan to change the criminal code. It would have ended mandatory minimums for many offenses and reduced maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking, and robbery.

According to a recent article from the Washington Post, the DC Council is finally starting to reverse its position on these radical progressive criminal reforms it has been considering. It turns out advocating for criminals isn’t the best approach to solving crime.

DC lawmakers are also starting to see the damage caused from catch-and-release. If things keep moving in this direction, we might even begin to see those accused of violent crimes remain behind bars while they await trial.

Last year, this city also experienced the worst officer shortage it has seen in 50 years. This is a direct result of ‘defund the police’ rhetoric. It was more than a ridiculous slogan. It was a dangerous slogan that garnered some traction. It’s become a rallying cry and I believe it’s the reason agencies across the country are having difficulty filling positions.

Another reason, frankly, is it’s a more dangerous job today than it was a few short years ago. Last year, 378 officers were shot. 46 of them lost their lives. That’s up 20% from 2020.

So, no, we’re not better off than we were four years ago, Madam Speaker. In fact, here in the nation’s capital, we’re not better off than we were just two years ago.

House Republicans are proud to stand with the men and women who keep our communities safe. We’re also committed to taking on the extreme polices of the Biden Administration, including bail reform and our wide-open southern border.

You can watch the speech here.