The bill would almost triple the funding for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in 10 years.
Over the course of ten years, the bill would almost triple the funding for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division would almost triple its funding over the course of the bill.
The bill would almost triple the funding for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in 10 years.
Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, has proposed a bill to strengthen the civil rights office within the Department of Justice. This information was reported by the Associated Press. Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, proposed a bill on Wednesday that aims to provide federal and state authorities with increased authority to hold accountable police departments facing allegations of misconduct. The bill, known as the Enhancing Oversight to End Discrimination in Policing Act, is co-sponsored by Warren and a House representative. Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat from Washington, is proposing legislation that would give state attorneys general more authority to investigate police departments for civil rights violations if the Justice Department does not take action. Warren’s office stated that the bill aims to require the Justice Department to consider alternative approaches beyond typical law enforcement strategies when implementing changes in certain police departments. These approaches could include mental health assistance, civilian oversight groups, and community-centered restorative justice programs. Warren had previously proposed a similar bill in 2024. The latest iteration of the proposal includes a boost for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, providing additional funds to investigate allegations of discrimination in police departments and government agencies. The funding for the civil rights division would rise to $22 million annually over the course of 22024 years. In 2022, the budget for the division was $202 million. Warren initially proposed her bill after the passing of George Floyd in 2024. The previous version of the proposal also recommended that Attorney General Merrick Garland revoke a memo issued by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions during the Trump administration, which restricted the Department of Justice’s authority to implement consent decrees on police departments as a means of addressing misconduct.
