AR193

An Assembly Resolution condemning United States House of Representatives proposals that aim to defund FBI and DOJ.

Whereas, The House Judiciary Committee is considering recommending budget cuts to the FBI and DOJ, and the recommended budget cuts are to be implemented through the appropriations process to specifically defund the DOJ and FBI; and

Whereas, For over 114 years, the FBI and its agents have risked their lives every day for the American people fighting against criminals and terrorist, foreign and domestic, across this great nation; and

Whereas, The FBI is the lead federal agency responsible for investigating foreign and domestic terrorism, cybercrimes, espionage, civil rights, public corruption, and weapons of mass destruction in addition to playing a vital role in eliminating organized crime, combating violent crime and fighting white collar crime; and

Whereas, The FBI has and continues to operate independently from Congress, which is one of several entities that have oversight responsibilities of the organization through a variety of Senate and House committees that review the FBI’s budget appropriations, programs and selected investigations; and

Whereas, The FBI and DOJ are not beholden to any president or administration; rather their duty is to the American people and upholding the Constitution; and

Whereas, Regardless of the FBI’s long history of independence and nonpartisanship, members of the majority party in the United States House of Representatives have expressed support for the defunding of the FBI and DOJ for political gain; and

Whereas, Attacking the FBI and its values is an assault not only on the institution but also on American values and security; and

Whereas, The DOJ and FBI are essential law enforcement agencies that aim to keep the United States safe from crime, terrorism, and foreign intelligence threats; and

Whereas, Defunding the FBI and DOJ will have a negative impact on public safety by stripping the FBI and DOJ of essential resources that are needed to fight crime, terrorism, and foreign intelligence threats; and

Whereas, The proposals to defund the FBI and DOJ being discussed in the House of Representatives put the safety and wellbeing of everyone living in the United States at risk from both domestic and foreign threats; and

Whereas, It is in the public interest of the citizens of the State of New Jersey to condemn discussion of the proposals in the House of Representatives to defund the FBI and DOJ as it recklessly puts the safety and wellbeing of all of the people in the Unites States at risk; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The General Assembly strongly condemns the United States House of Representatives proposals that aim to defund the FBI and DOJ.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution condemns the United States House of Representatives proposals to defund the FBI and DOJ. Members of the majority party in the United States House of Representatives have expressed support for the defunding of the FBI and DOJ. The DOJ and FBI are essential law enforcement agencies that aim to keep the United States safe from crime, terrorism, and foreign intelligence threats. For over 114 years, the FBI and its agents have risked their lives every day for the American people fighting against criminals and terrorist, foreign and domestic, across this great nation. Defunding the FBI and DOJ will have a negative impact on public safety, by stripping the FBI and DOJ of essential resources that are needed to fight crime, terrorism, and foreign intelligence threats. The FBI has and continues to operate independently from Congress, which is one of several entities that have oversight responsibilities of the organization through a variety of Senate and House committees that review the FBI’s budget appropriations, programs and selected investigations. The FBI and DOJ are not beholden to any president or administration; rather their duty is to the American people and upholding the Constitution.

Attacking the FBI and its values is an assault not only on the institution but also on American values and security. The proposals to defund the FBI and DOJ being discussed in the House of Representatives put the safety and wellbeing of everyone living in the United States at risk from both domestic and foreign threats. It is in the public interest of the citizens of the State of New Jersey to condemn the House Representatives proposals to defund the FBI and DOJ as they recklessly put the safety and wellbeing of all of the people in the Unites States at risk.