OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 12, 2017
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Federal, State and Local Relations

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Mr. Chairman, I stand in support of the amendment.

The amendment does a great deal to restore our constitutional right to due process and protects the institution of federalism. The equitable sharing program incentivizes local law enforcement agencies to ignore State laws regarding civil asset forfeiture in favor of Federal law.

After Ohio reformed civil asset forfeiture laws, local agencies have been able to bypass, just as the gentleman from Michigan described. DOJ allows this even when Federal officials play no role in the investigation or the arrest. Congressman Amash's amendment would end this policy.

This program violates the independence of State's police powers and promotes an asset forfeiture scheme that undermines due process. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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