WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after two of his amendments after two of his amendments cutting funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ) successfully passed the House and were attached to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016:
Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after two of his amendments cutting funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ) successfully passed the House and were attached to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016:
“In recent years, DOJ has instructed U.S. Attorney’s Offices in some states not to prosecute persons that violate certain criminal immigration laws and to terminate worthwhile enforcement programs like Operation Streamline. I have heard firsthand from local law enforcement in my district that such actions have placed unnecessary burdens on these officers, increased costs, put local communities at risk and encouraged more illegal immigration. In order to change the rampant culture of corruption within this rogue agency, I cut funds and increased oversight for DOJ employees who have failed to enforce our immigration laws.
“I am a firm believer in proper oversight of the federal government and there is no question that more oversight is needed at DOJ. I will continue to send a message through House appropriations bills that failure to enforce the laws on the books will result in serious financial consequences.”
Additional:
One of Congressman Gosar’s successful amendments cut funds from the Department of Justice's General Legal Account, specifically targeting the Deputy Attorney General's office until the Attorney General fully enforces current federal criminal immigration laws. The Committee raised similar concerns about the selective enforcement of these laws by DOJ. This amendment passed the House by a vote of 228-198.
Another successful Gosar amendment cut $2.2095 million from the DOJ General Administration Salaries and Expenses Account and reprogrammed some of those funds to the DOJ Office of Inspector General (OIG) to bring that office's account up to the fiscal year 2016 budget request. In the Committee Report, the Committee noted, “that the OIG has had significant investigative and audit workload.” It seems only fitting that the Inspector General’s office receive the budget requested resources, particularly at the expense of the office it will likely need to investigate first. The IG community is responsible for important oversight and accountability for countless government agencies and Congressman Gosar wishes to give them the resources they need. Since the Inspector General Act was passed into law, the IG community has saved taxpayers billions of dollars and has uncovered countless examples of wrongdoing in the federal government.
