As a former judge, I know that law and order is the foundation of our society. Our Constitution provides the moral framework for the policies and actions of the U.S. government and protects the liberties we enjoy as Americans. It is critical to uphold these rights to ensure all citizens are treated justly. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have supported increased funding for federal law enforcement efforts. It’s critical that those fighting terrorism, cybercrime, illegal drug efforts, and human trafficking receive the support they need.

As a strong supporter of our local law enforcement, I was proud to author and introduce the Protecting Our Lives by Initiating COPS Expansion (POLICE) Act, which was signed into law in July 2016. This bill allows grant funding to train law enforcement and first responders to deal with active shooter threats.

In 2018 my bill, the Justice Served Act, was signed into law by President Trump. The Justice Served Act was created to help give closure to victims of violent crime and their families that never received justice. The bill directs funding to state and local jurisdictions to prosecute criminals who have been identified through newly discovered DNA evidence. With this new funding finally available, justice will be served.

Lastly, I will continue to protect Americans' constitutional rights. I have supported legislation that protects lawful gun owners' right to purchase firearms, while also supporting legislation to fix the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, so guns do not end up in the hands of those who are prohibited from purchasing them.