We're going to always back the blue. It's a shame everybody doesn't, but we will. ... and also to stand up against these crazy ideas like defund the police. ... They want to defund them at every level, and we will not let it happen.
Always back law enforcement and oppose efforts to defund the police.
Occurrences
We had a resolution by Zach Nunn to pay tribute to our men and women in law enforcement... So the defund the police movement is alive and well in the Democrat Party...
partner with federal and state law enforcement officers to keep our communities safe
Evidence
On June 9, House Republicans passed the Secure America Act 214-212. The report says Steve Scalise argued that supporters were voting to fund law enforcement and that a no vote meant they were voting to "defund the police".
Congress.gov states H.Res.1213 was agreed to in the House on May 17, 2024, 337-61. Its summary says the resolution condemns calls to defund the police and recognizes that officers need equipment, training, and resources to protect public safety.
The House Clerk records Roll Call 218 on H.Res.1213 as passed, 337 yeas to 61 nays, and lists Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana, voting Yea.
Congress.gov identifies H.Con.Res.40 as expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies. It says the House agreed to it by recorded vote, 301-119, on May 18, 2023.
The House Clerk records Roll Call 227 on H.Con.Res.40 as passed, 301 ayes to 119 noes, and lists Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana, voting Aye.
Congress.gov states H.R.2494, the POLICE Act of 2023, passed the House on May 17, 2023. The summary says the bill makes assaulting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder a deportable offense.
The House Clerk records Roll Call 225 on passage of H.R.2494, the POLICE Act, as passed, 255 ayes to 175 noes, and lists Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana, voting Aye.
The Guardian reported that during debate on a 2026 immigration-enforcement funding bill, Scalise framed support for the bill as funding law enforcement and opposition as defunding police.
Assessments
Scalise, as a sitting federal House member, voted for multiple House measures directly matching the promise: H.Con.Res.40 in 2023 supporting local law enforcement and condemning defunding or dismantling law enforcement agencies, H.Res.1213 in 2024 condemning calls to defund police and recognizing resource needs for officers, and H.R.2494 in 2023 protecting law enforcement and first responders through immigration penalties. He also publicly advanced pro-law-enforcement funding arguments in 2026. These actions occurred while he remained in the relevant federal office and satisfy the promise at the House-member level.
This promise is best judged as an ongoing policy stance rather than a one-time measurable outcome. The evidence shows Scalise, while serving in federal office, publicly argued on the House floor that Republicans were funding law enforcement and cast opposition as effectively supporting efforts to defund the police. That is direct, same-term evidence that he backed law enforcement and opposed 'defund the police' efforts in his official role. Because the claim is broad and behavioral, this documented advocacy is sufficient for full delivery rather than partial credit.