Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25) spoke to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Fiscal Year 2023 budget request. During the hearing, Garcia urged AG Garland to support law enforcement as crime skyrockets in California and across the nation. 
 
“You said, ‘I am pleased with the progress the department has made since I appeared before you last June’. And I can’t wrap my brain around why you would be pleased with what’s gone on in the last, call it a year to 18 months,” said Garcia.
 
During the hearing, Garcia referenced the alarming rise in national crime rates. In 2021, 12 cities broke annual homicide records. Garcia stated that 80% of Americans are concerned about crime and violence. Since 2021, there has been a 43% increase in police officers shot in the line of duty and a 59% increase in officers killed.
 
“We need to reverse this cultural trend of defunding the police, instead defend the police and back our blue, while holding the bad apples accountable obviously,” said Garcia.
 
In California’s 25th District, Garcia remains focused on combating the illegal marijuana grows that are being run by transnational criminal organizations and worked by indentured servants. One of the roadblocks local law enforcement currently face is the overtime cap of $19,000. Garcia asked AG Garland for help in removing the cap so that L.A. County law enforcement can have enough law enforcement officers to combat the illegal marijuana grows.
 
“I implore you sir, please help us remove this artificial cap in L.A. County,” said Garcia. “$19,000 a year doesn’t do anything. We are short on cops. We’re not short on crime. We have major and serious problems with rising violent crime rates. We need to enable our officers.”
 
Garcia drew national attention to the illegal marijuana grows in the 25th district, helping to conduct the largest illegal drug raid in L.A. County history. However, because of the lack of law enforcement funding and a failure to secure our border, illegal grows continue to spread across L.A. County. Garcia urged Garland to finally incentivize law enforcement, as doing so would lower crime rates across the nation and increase officer retention.
 
Click here to watch Rep. Garcia question AG Garland on crime rates.
Click here to watch Rep. Garcia question AG Garland on action to combat the illegal marijuana grows.