Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) voted to confirm Merrick Garland as the next Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Our country needs a Justice Department noted for its integrity and separation from politics. Since serving as Nevada’s Attorney General to now as United States Senator, I have worked closely with the U.S. Department of Justice to address the issues of human trafficking, domestic violence, law enforcement training and behavioral health and well-being assistance, criminal justice reform, and voting rights—issues that Nevada still faces today. Merrick Garland’s demonstrated experience on the federal bench and his commitment to upholding the rule of law make him well qualified to lead the Justice Department, and I look forward to working with Attorney General Garland in addressing the needs of Nevada in the years to come.”
Background:
Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked with the Department of Justice to bring more resources to the state of Nevada. Last August, the Senator announced nearly $7 million in grant funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist law enforcement agencies, tribes, victims of domestic violence, and local and state government in Nevada in combating domestic and sexual violence. Later in September, she also announced more than $1 million in DOJ grants awarded to Nevada to organizations working to support trafficking victims.
Senator Cortez Masto will continue work with the DOJ to ensure swift implementation of her bipartisan legislative victories, including the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act, which requires the FBI to track law enforcement suicides and attempted suicides, and the Not Invisible Act and Savanna’s Act, which will improve the DOJ’s response to cases of missing and murdered indigenous women.
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