WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Blocking Lawlessness from Undermining Enforcement (BLUE) Act to prohibit states and local governments that pass measures to defund the police from taking traffic enforcement federal grants away from departments facing real budget shortfalls. While liberal cities and towns are slashing law enforcement budgets, they are still eligible to backfill these budgets with federal funds from agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This takes away funding that would otherwise go to cities and towns that actually need these grants to sufficiently fund their police departments. This legislation prevents radical city councils and local governments from taking advantage of that loophole and undermine other towns and cities that are actually committed to protecting their citizens.
“Federal police grants should go to towns and cities that actually need the assistance, not to bail out city councils that put their citizens in greater danger to show their liberal purity,” said Dr. Cassidy.
U.S. Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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