Fischer Presses AG Garland on Local Law Enforcement Funding, Support for States Grappling with Biden’s Catch and Release Policies

At a Senate Appropriations hearing this week, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland about the failures of President Biden's FY25 budget request.

Senator Fischer questioned the Attorney General about proposed cuts to the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program, which offers secure information sharing, communications capabilities, and other support services for local, state, and federal law enforcement to enhance officer safety and fight violent crime.

Senator Fischer also asked about the administration's effort to defund the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which helps states and localities imprison criminal illegal aliens - resources that are critical amid the ongoing crisis at the U.S. southern border. Senator Fischer is committed to ensuring that states have the resources they need to grapple with the damaging impacts of President Biden's catch and release policies.

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On President Biden's Proposed Cuts to Local Law Enforcement Programs:

Senator Fischer: President Biden's budget request for the Justice Department states that its goal is to uphold the rule of law. I appreciate this goal, but I don't see a budget that truly supports this vision. I see cuts to resources for local law enforcement who are struggling right now. I see the elimination of a program that helps put criminal illegal aliens in jail. And I'm seeing cuts like these in favor of more spending to fulfill President Biden's political goals. Smart and responsible budget cuts are important, but if you really want to uphold the law, cuts to law enforcement programs aren't the right place to start.
On the Benefits of the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program:

Senator Fischer: Your funding request for the Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative is $110 million more than the funding you're seeking for the Regional Information Sharing Systems program, known as RISS. RISS is a proven communications program that helps state and local law enforcement combat criminal activity. As nice as community intervention programs are, they'll never replace the men and women in uniform who hold the thin blue line every single day. The President's request actually tries to cut funding for the RISS program by several million dollars. Did the department assess a reduced need for RISS funding for FY 25? Because that's not what I'm hearing from Nebraska sheriffs.
Attorney General Garland: I have to say that funding for state and local police is a high priority for the Justice Department. We're asking for more than $4.3 billion in funding for state and local police, and $16.5 billion dollars in a mandatory program over five years. We're asking for an increase in our COPS hiring program of 893.5%, $2.5 billion total, $2.3 billion increase. That money goes for state and local police hiring. We're asking for $524.5 million for Byrne JAG grants. $323 million, a $7.5 million increase, for our Office of Violence Against Women grants which focus on local law enforcement and prosecutors. We've asked for $133 million for our Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program.

On President Biden's Proposed Cuts to the RISS Program:
Senator Fischer: I know - Excuse me. I have limited time. But, I know there are a number of programs out there. But, specifically to the RISS program, which is a program that really offers secure information sharing and communications capabilities, investigative support services. And that all enhances our officers' safety. And so what I'm hearing is the priority for that program, which we're looking at a $4 million decrease and the President's requesting $40 million. You compare that to the Community Based Violence Intervention Prevention Initiative … why are we looking at, in the FY 24 budget, $0 for that program? We're now looking at a $150 million increase in that program. So, I'm just curious. If you reach out to local law enforcement, which I know you do, but do you hear a priority being for the RISS program as well?
Attorney General Garland: I'm sorry, and maybe even embarrassed to say that I'm not sufficiently familiar with the RISS program. I have spoken constantly. We meet quarterly with state and local law enforcement. And I've gone to more than 40 U.S. Attorney's Offices to meet with state and local. This issue hasn't been raised for me, but I will ask my staff to get back to you. Many of the things we're talking about sound like things that are also covered by the other grant programs, but-

On President Biden's Push to Defund Programs Combating Crime from Illegal Immigration:
Senator Fischer: We also face issues because of the chaos that we see at our southern border. There's a program that you have there. It's one of the few programs that helps states with that. It's the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which the President has proposed to cut funding to that entirely, entirely. The reason being that it's a duplicative program. My time is out, but I'd like to submit a couple more questions to you if you could respond to it. And, specifically, that program because we are seeing across this country, cities, states seeing increased needs for these assistance programs because of the chaos that we see at our border. And, to find one that, again, is working for my state, and to see that being cut, I'd like to explore the answers that you provide for that.