Biden's comments came during his speech in the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 90th Annual Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Friday.
"We shouldn't be cutting funding for police departments," Biden announced. "I propose increasing funding. Look, you know, we ask cops to do everything, including be psychologists and social workers. Guess what? They need psychologists and social workers. I mean it. Not a joke."
Throughout his address, Biden praised what he believed to be accomplishments for Americans throughout his first year in office, telling the mayors that "nothing's gonna do more to ease pressures on families" than the Build Back Better legislation he has proposed.
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Touching on aspects of the bill, Biden declared that police departments should "hire other social workers, folks trained in mental health, so they can partner with trusted community leaders like programs the Rescue Plan is funding in Atlanta and Louisville and other cities across the country."
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Before taking office, Biden suggested on the campaign trail that he would be "absolutely" OK with steps to redirect some police funding, a suggestion he later walked back as he targeted Republicans and declared in July they were "lying" regarding efforts advanced by members of the Democratic Party to "defund the police."
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Back then, Biden announced he had "never said defund the police" and claimed that "we need more policemen, not fewer policemen" despite his previous support for reallocating funds.
Several Progressive members of Congress, including "Squad" Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., have called for the dismantling or defunding of police departments.
Omar called for the Minneapolis Police Department to be dismantled because it is "rotten to the root."
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Trying to distance himself from the rhetoric, Biden recently signed three pieces of bipartisan legislation that back police officers, the law enforcement community, and federal officials.
Biden also is expected to use the moment to criticize former President Donald Trump, the people familiar with the discussions said. The president was sharply critical of Trump during a Jan. 6 anniversary speech and again on Tuesday while giving remarks on voting rights.
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The White House's decision to begin 2022 with significant pushes for voting rights and police reform comes as Biden's support among Black voters, a voting bloc key to both his primary and general election success, seems to be at an all-time low. A new Quinnipiac poll discovered that 57 percent of Black voters approved of the president's job performance – down significantly from 78 percent in April, and in territory that could imperil Democrats' chances of keeping control of the House and Senate in the November midterm elections.