Science. and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 2016. The amendment seeks to hold the Department of Justice accountable for its failure to enforce the rule of law. Specifically. my amendment decreases available funding for the salaries of individuals who concoct ways to undermine Federal criminal immigration laws. This amendment is very similar to an amendment that passed this body last year in relation to the DOJs lack of enforcement of Federal marijuana laws and was offered by my friend and colleague Congressman FLEMING. My amendment reduces Department of Justices general legal account by $1 million. specifically targeting the Deputy Attorney Generals Office. I will continue to seek similar amendments until the Attorney General decides to enforce the Federal criminal immigration laws on the books. In 2014. the Department of Justice instructed the U.S. Attorneys Office in some States to no longer prosecute persons that violate certain criminal immigration laws. I have heard firsthand from 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. The committee raised similar concerns about the selective enforcement of these laws in the committee report stating: "The committee is concerned with the inconsistent enforcement of Federal criminal immigration laws and supports programs like Operation Streamline. The Attorney General is directed to submit a report to the committee . . . The report shall describe steps the Department is taking to ensure that the Federal criminal immigration law is enforced vigorously and consistently across the country to include prosecution guidelines and policies by district." My amendment is consistent with the concerns expressed by the committee and echo this message without harming the overall operation of the Department. I thank the chair and ranking member for their leadership on this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
Keywords matched
immigration illegal immigration