WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody is fighting to protect Americans from violent crime. Today in Washington, Senator Moody stood with Senate GOP colleagues John Cornyn (R-TX), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jon Husted (R-OH) in support of President Donald Trump’s successful efforts to stop crime in the nation’s capital, and also welcomed Anna Giaritelli, reporter at the Washington Examiner, to share her story.
Click image above or HERE to watch
Read excerpts from Senator Ashley Moody’s remarks below:
“… sadly, back home, we have families who wanted to visit the nation’s capital and were afraid to do so. We had young people starting out their careers that wanted to work here whose families were advising them not to because it was too dangerous.
“… as someone who hails from the Great State of Florida where so many were dispatched and invited to come be part of this administration and turn this nation around, it is sad to think that people have to consider their safety when deciding whether to serve their nation in the capital.
“Every single issue [President Trump] has addressed, he has thought outside the box – using the laws, the tools and the resources available to him to make a difference on commonsense initiatives that promote the strength and the safety of this nation.
“… No one can doubt that this was the right move. Not only for the nation’s capital, but for the rest of this country, and for anyone who wants to come here and serve the American people.
“… as for what we should do around this nation – using this as a model – it can be no surprise that the basic elements of ensuring strength and safety in a community come down to:
“Ensuring that you are not pulling resources or defunding the police;
“Ensuring that you are not decriminalizing crime;
“Ensuring that you are not promoting rogue prosecutors who refuse to follow and enforce the law;
“Making sure that you are holding juveniles accountable. Because you’re under 18 doesn’t mean you should be able to violently assault someone or murder someone and just walk out the door; and
“Having a sense of morale, boost and support for your law enforcement community. That doesn’t just mean focusing on training, recruitment and making sure you can fulfill your ranks, but showing support for those who signed up to stand on the thin line between chaos, order and peace.”
At the beginning of August, President Trump called up additional federal law enforcement officers and National Guard members to enforce the rule of law in Washington, D.C. This action follows several violent, tragic acts that occurred in the Nation’s Capital earlier in the summer—including the murder of two embassy staffers in May, the fatal shooting of a Congressional intern near the White House in June, and the group assault of a federal government staffer—and responds to a city violent crime rate that is higher than some of the most dangerous places in the world.
President Trump’s efforts were successful—according to one analysis, violent crime is down by almost half when compared to the same time period last year. Beyond violent crime, reported burglaries are also down 48% and car thefts have fallen 36%.
Senator Moody is a long-time supporter of the rule of law and of law enforcement officers. Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has:
- Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence;
- Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers;
- Co-Sponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. The new law assists law enforcement officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act;
- Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and
- Voted to pass the largest pro-law enforcement package out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week.
As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs.
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