WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and John Thune (R-South Dakota) today introduced a Senate resolution that condemns any action by the Biden Administration to withhold or restrict ammunition or weapons for Israel. Graham led a group of Senators in holding a press conference earlier today on the resolution.

The resolution is cosponsored by a total of 48 Republican senators.

“If President Biden continues with his decision to withhold or restrict ammunition and weapons to Israel, he and his administration will have destroyed the last, best chance to build on the Abraham Accords and bring peace to the Middle East for generations. Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran are dedicated to wiping the Jewish people and the State of Israel off the face of the Earth. What is the proper response for Israel, as they defend themselves from these lethal threats? They have to fight, and fight hard. The United States must never turn its back on Israel. I urge President Biden to change course immediately. The last thing we want to do is to reward terrorists – who violate international norms by weaponizing hospitals, mosques and schools – by blaming the victim of the terrorist attack, not the terrorists. If this policy holds, terrorists will get the message loud and clear that if they exploit civilians in this manner, terrorists will get a pass and their victims will be punished,” said Senator Graham.

“After World War II, we as Americans said, ‘Never Again.’ Today, President Biden’s dithering doctrine of appeasement and legacy of weakness threaten to break that promise,” said Senator Katie Britt. “This Administration is turning its back on Israel — and at the worst possible time. As Israel works to secure the release of the hostages — including American citizens — still held by Hamas in Gaza, President Biden has undermined Israel and empowered Hamas. We must stand unequivocally with Israel as she fights to end Hamas’ reign of terror and ensure there is never another October 7,” said Senator Britt.

“President Biden’s decision to withhold critical ammunition to Israel is a total betrayal of our friend and ally. Israel is in a fight for survival against genocidal Hamas terrorists. These same Hamas terrorists currently hold 8 American citizens hostage, including North Carolina native, Keith Siegel. The best way we can bring them home is by increasing military pressure on Hamas. But by withholding lethal aid, President Biden is telling Hamas to stall, hold out, and continue their campaign of terror. Bottom line: President Biden is making it harder to secure the hostages’ freedom,” said Senator Budd.

“It’s now plain what we suspected all along: Joe Biden’s de facto position is for a Hamas victory over Israel. Israel’s goal is simple: rescue the hostages—including American hostages and destroy Hamas to get justice for the worst atrocity against Jews since World War II and to prevent the next atrocity,” said Senator Cotton.

“The Biden White House has been the most anti-Israel administration we have ever seen, and its foreign policy is precisely backwards. They have intentionally enabled the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars to Gaza with the knowledge that those taxpayer dollars would directly fund Hamas terrorists at the same time they have systematically undermined our Israeli allies since day one. The United States position should be to fully support Israel’s campaign to utterly eradicate Hamas," said Senator Cruz. 

“I just returned from Israel, and it’s clear America’s leadership at this moment is imperative. Our servicemembers are under attack by Iran-backed proxies and our citizens are held captive by Hamas. The last thing we need is a president who waffles in his support for our ally, but we have one who has broken his “ironclad” promise by withholding weapons from Israel. These are the precision tools needed to target Hamas and protect civilians. We already have the mouthpieces of Hamas here at home, violently ‘protesting’ on college campuses – we don’t need it in the White House. It’s clear we need new leadership,” said Senator Ernst.

“We are standing with Israel in their fight to decimate Hamas terrorists and will not turn our backs on them. President Biden's decision to delay aid shipments to Israel at this critical time demonstrates how much the Democrats have surrendered to the pro-Hamas, pro-terrorist faction of their party. Biden has shown that he would rather posture for votes in the upcoming election than honor America's longstanding commitment to our greatest ally in the Middle East. In the absence of this Administrations leadership, I’m proud to join my colleagues in demanding this president carry out his duty to deliver the aid to Israel,” said Senator Marshall.

“No one told America how to respond to terrorists after 9/11. Biden’s decision to withhold arms to our ally, Israel, is political and extremely dangerous. I’m glad to join my colleagues in condemning this decision and reminding the president that protecting Israel is in our U.S. national security interest,” said Senator Mullin.

“President Biden’s clear threat to Israel, made on network television, made it obvious that he and his administration are more concerned with pacifying anti-Israel, and often anti-Semitic, sentiment among potential voters than with supporting our close partner during a critical time of need. President Biden has given Hamas the greatest victory it could hope for; he has driven a wedge between the United States and Israel, and American allies and partners are watching our government’s behavior closely,” said Senator Risch.

“I’m sure Hamas is very happy with the Biden Administration’s decision to restrict U.S. ammunition and weapons shipments to Israel. This is not the way we treat an ally who is fighting an existential threat. This is not some dispute over a border. This is not two countries fighting over an oil field. This is a terrorist group that just six months ago, murdered, raped, and kidnapped civilians. Their reason for existence is the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel. So, when we don’t help Israel publicly, we’re encouraging their enemies,” said Senator Rubio.

“The Biden administration’s decision to freeze weapons delivery to Israel jeopardizes not only Israel’s security, but our reputation as a reliable ally. The United States must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, and stop the administration from forcing them to fight with one hand tied behind their back,” said Senator Thune.

The resolution:

• Condemns any decision by the Biden Administration to halt the shipment of United States made ammunition and weapons to the State of Israel
• Demands that the Biden Administration continue to fulfill the military aid requests from the State of Israel in order to provide the weapons needed to defeat Hamas and defend against attacks from the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies
• Reaffirms the importance of the long history of the United States providing military aid to the State of Israel and willingness to expedite delivery of such aid in times of crisis
• Upholds the commitment of the United States to the State of Israel’s security and long-term prosperity

The resolution is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Todd Young (R-Indiana).

Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.

To watch the full press conference, click HERE.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), along with eight other Senators, introduced the Protect and Serve Act — bipartisan legislation that would make knowingly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to a law enforcement officer a federal crime. 

Last week, four law enforcement officers were tragically killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, while executing an arrest warrant on a known fugitive. Three of the officers killed were part of the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, which covers North and South Carolina, and the fourth officer killed was a deputy with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who was responding to the scene.

“I’m very pleased to support Senator Tillis’ legislation to protect our men and women in blue,” said Senator Graham. “We should do everything we can to support law enforcement officers on the job. This bill would make it a federal crime to attack a police officer in the line of duty, in order to deter these types of attacks from occurring. Now is the time for America to be clear that we support law enforcement – not just by words, but by action.”

“Law enforcement officers in North Carolina and across the country are heroes who risk their lives every day to protect our communities,” said Senator Tillis. “Those who commit senseless acts of violence against law enforcement officers must be held accountable for their actions, which is why I am proud to reintroduce this legislation that creates federal penalties for criminals who target law enforcement. They put their lives on the line to protect us, and we should do the work in Congress to protect them.”

Graham and Tillis were joined by U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Kevin Cramer (R- North Dakota), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia). 

This law would apply to federal law enforcement officers and would also apply to state and local officers in circumstances where the federal government can establish jurisdiction over the case. The legislation was first introduced in 2020.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

Background and support for the Protect and Serve Act:

The National Fraternal Order of Police reports as of December 31, 2023, there were 378 officers shot in the line of duty in 2023. Of those officers shot, 46 of them were killed. There were 115 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers last year. These ambush-style attacks resulted in 138 officers shot, 20 of whom were killed.

The Protect and Serve Act would address this problem by giving federal prosecutors the tools they need to hold accountable those who target law enforcement for assault and attacks. The Protect and Serve Act would support law enforcement officers by: 

• Making it a federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, bodily injury to a law enforcement officer. Offenders are subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years.
• An offender could receive a life sentence if a death results from the offense, or if the offense includes kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or attempted murder.

The Protect and Serve Act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Sergeant Benevolent Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition, and the National Association of Police Organizations.

“This legislation is a priority for the FOP and was drafted as a direct response to the increased number of targeted attacks on law enforcement officers by imposing, in very limited circumstances, Federal penalties on individuals who deliberately and violently attack local, State or Federal law enforcement officers,” said Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police. “As of 30 April 2024, 136 officers were shot in the line of duty, 20 of whom were killed. There have been 26 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement in which 34 officers were shot, six of whom were killed. We are grateful to Senator Tillis for leading the charge on this issue. We look forward to working with them to get this measure to the floor.”

“The tragedy in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 29 once again highlights the dangerous profession law enforcement officers have and the risks they face when serving and protecting their communities,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations. “The shooting of those eight officers is just adding to the ever-increasing number of officers being shot in the line of duty. NAPO is calling on Congress to take up and pass the Protect and Serve Act to demonstrate that the killing or the attempted killing of our nation’s law enforcement officers is unacceptable and those who commit these heinous crimes must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We thank Senator Tillis for his commitment to and support for the law enforcement community.”

“In the face of a continued rise in attacks on our nation’s federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, the SBA is proud to once again support the Protect and Serve Act and urge Congress to expedite passage of this important legislation,” said President Vincent Vallelong of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department.  “As we saw in the murder of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in March and this week in Charlotte with the senseless and brutal attack on members of a U.S. Marshals’ fugitive task force, law enforcement officers must maintain constant vigilance to the threats posed by those who seek to do them harm for nothing more than the badge and uniform they wear. That is why we are grateful for Sen. Tillis’ strong and consistent leadership in advancing this critical officer safety measure that will combat targeted violence against our members and officers across this country who protect and serve their communities.”

“The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) is proud to support the Protect and Serve Act,” said Megan Noland, Executive Director of the Major County Sheriffs of America. “This legislation will ensure individuals who attack officers are held accountable and assist our efforts to deter further violence against law enforcement. We thank the sponsors for their leadership and stand ready to support all efforts to quickly advance this important legislation.”

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