{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-tillis-introduce-legislation-to-further-protect-law-enforcement-after-targeted-shootings-of-officers/", "Senator Coons, Tillis, introduce legislation to further protect law enforcement after targeted shootings of officers", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Introduction follows killing of Corporal Matthew \u201cTy\u201d Snook in Delaware last December\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), today introduced the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 to deter attacks on law enforcement officers by creating new federal charges against criminals who intentionally target them. The introduction comes in honor of law enforcement officers in Delaware and North Carolina who were killed in targeted attacks.\n\nSenator Coons was inspired to introduce the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 following the tragic shooting of Corporal Grade One Matthew \u201cTy\u201d Snook, who was killed in the line of duty on December 23, 2025, at a Wilmington Division of Motor Vehicles office. Corporal Snook was a father, husband, brother, and friend who died serving and protecting the people of Delaware.\n\n\u201cNo law enforcement officer should have to fear for their lives just because they put on their badge before they go to work each day. Yet too many officers have been killed in targeted attacks designed specifically to take the lives of law enforcement, leaving a gaping tear in the hearts of spouses, parents, children, and communities,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 because those who perpetrate crimes like this one should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers in North Carolina and across the country are heroes who risk their lives every day to protect our communities,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThose who commit senseless acts of violence against law enforcement officers must be held accountable for their actions, which is why I am proud to lead the bipartisan Protect and Serve Act of 2026. Officers put their lives on the line to protect us, and we should do the work in Congress to protect them.\u201d\n\n\u201cTargeted violence towards a law enforcement officer is completely unacceptable and anyone who tries to hurt a cop because of their job should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cOur police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their communities, and this bipartisan bill shows we have their backs.\u201d\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cThose who deliberately target officers with the intent to kill must face severe consequences. The Protect and Serve Act would give federal prosecutors additional tools to hold these violent offenders accountable and reinforce our commitment to those who protect and serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur members are under fire by individuals motivated by nothing more than a desire to kill or injure a cop. Despite a decrease in the nation\u2019s homicide rate, firearms attacks on law enforcement officers have remained alarmingly high, underscoring a dangerous and persistent trend of deliberate attacks \u2013 too many of which are not spontaneous confrontations, but calculated assaults intended to inflict maximum harm on officers,\u201d said Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to Senators Tillis and Coons, with whom we have been working to develop this \u2018Protect and Serve Act\u2019 to better protect our men and women in law enforcement. The bill they have introduced is a product of true collaboration and we sincerely appreciate their leadership and dedication. We look forward to working with them and with our other Senate allies to get this bill to a vote on the floor.\u201d\n\nThe Protect and Serve Act of 2026 will protect our servicemen and women who put their lives on the line each and every day. It establishes a new federal crime against those who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers in targeted attacks meant to kill them solely because of their status as law enforcement officers. It has been revised from prior versions to focus federal prosecutors on the most heinous attacks designed to kill law enforcement.\n\nThe Protect and Serve Act of 2026 is endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-tillis-introduce-legislation-to-further-protect-law-enforcement-after-targeted-shootings-of-officers/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6674348153173923, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}