Attorney General Merrick Garland Testifies Before House Appropriations Committee

In his first congressional hearing as Attorney General, Garland testified before the house Appropriations Committee.

Merrick Garland was in the hot seat yesterday.

In his first congressional hearing as Attorney General, Garland testified before the house Appropriations Committee. In the hearing, he proposed a 35 billion dollar budget increase for the justice department. The funding would help combat domestic terrorism, protect civil rights, prosecute hate crimes, battle the opioid epidemic and more. Garland also spoke on policing reforms, including a budget request to enhance community-oriented policing. Garland said promoting public trust between communities and law enforcement is essential to making communities and authorities feel safe. The subcommittee’s ranking member, representative Robert Aderholt of Alabama said he was concerned that the proposal didn’t focus enough on foreign terrorist threats or prosecuting human trafficking, but he believes that there will be an opportunity to come to an agreement.