During National Police Week, we honor the brave men and women in blue who risk everything to protect our communities. As a former Sheriff with generations of family members who have served in law enforcement, this week especially reminds me of the profound sacrifices our officers make.
Right outside my office is an End of Watch wall I began the day I entered Congress. It honors every fallen officer killed in the line of duty and is sadly updated nearly every day. Each name is a heartbreaking reminder of the cost of keeping us safe. It is shameful that those who protect us are too often disrespected or taken for granted in our society.
Thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House and strong Republican leadership in Congress, we are restoring law and order, and the numbers prove it.
After historic declines in crime in 2025, including roughly 20 percent fewer homicides, with the national rate reaching its lowest level in over 125 years, the positive trend is continuing into 2026. Early 2026 data shows murders down more than 20 percent year-to-date in large samples of agencies nationwide, with other violent crimes also trending lower. These are not just statistics. This goes to show how strong leadership from the top sends a message that Americans stand behind our men and women in blue — not criminals.
I’m proud to champion the bipartisan National Law Enforcement Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. My bill has over 120 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, and invests federal dollars into programs that effectively promote officer safety and wellness and enhance community engagement with our law enforcement officers.
Specifically, my bipartisan legislation would support and enhance the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum through grants to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), which was created by an act of Congress in 1984.
Currently, the National Law Enforcement Museum receives zero federal dollars, unlike other museums created by Congress. While I am a fiscal conservative, I recognize the importance of promoting officer safety and wellness, and informing the American public of the vital role law enforcement plays daily in our lives.
The federal government is known to use our hard-earned tax dollars for radical left-wing pet projects, like funding a Sesame Street program in Iraq. It’s time we put our tax dollars to good use and support our men and women in blue.
I urge Congress to pass my legislation swiftly and send a strong message to law enforcement across the country that they finally have leaders in Washington, D.C., who stand with them, not against them.
To every law enforcement officer, thank you. Your courage, dedication, and willingness to run toward danger will never be forgotten. This National Police Week and every week after, let’s show our appreciation. When you see a police officer, be sure to say “thank you.”
Rep. Troy Nehls represents Texas’s 22nd District in Congress.
