Goodlatte Statement at Markup of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today delivered the following remarks during the House Judiciary Committee’s markup of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program AuthorizationAct (H.R. 3249). Chairman Goodlatte: For decades, gangs have been engaging in criminal activity ranging from drug distribution to prostitution to identity theft. As the severity and sophistication of their crimes increases, so does the threat to our nation’s youth. Flagrant acts of violence intended to bolster gangs’ reputability is often perpetuated by young recruits. The violence has a ruinous, lasting effect on communities across the United States. The brave men and women in law enforcement are on the front lines directly engaging in enforcement, prevention, and educational programs to keep our communities safe from gangs, and it is vitally important that they are fully equipped to address the spike in gang activity. This has been increasingly difficult in recent years. Access to grants is necessary to adequately fund task forces that counter gang activity. For instance, one of Virginia’s Regional Gang Task Forces has been reduced from a budget of $3 million in 2012 to $325,000 today. During that same time, gangs have accelerated recruitment efforts, and the public has experienced more gang-related violent crime. Working with members of the community, such as teachers, guidance counselors, and parents, law enforcement personnel are able to recognize at-risk youth and offer guidance on how to avoid getting involved in the first place. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) was established in 2001 as an initiative within the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. It provided a nationwide commitment to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gang and gun crime and provided these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. In recent years, however, funding has dwindled and Attorney General Sessions recently announced his intent to “rejuvenate” this program. H.R. 3249 officially authorizes Project Safe Neighborhoods, which was previously only authorized through appropriations of certain other grants. It permits the Attorney General to authorize a block grant program called the “Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program” for the purpose of combating violent gang crimes by facilitating partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies, including the United States Attorney in each federal judicial district. It provides the localities receiving grants under this Program with control over how the funds are to be used, to the extent practicable. This local control will ensure local law enforcement is able to allocate funds toward specific problems they have identified. The bill also allocates a percentage of the funds to regional task forces in areas with a significant or increased presence of criminal activity caused by gangs. We must continue to combat gang violence – whether that violence is classic street violence, trafficking, or transnational crime. I urge my colleagues to support the authorization of these funds to protect our youth and to keep our communities safe. It is a worthwhile investment with invaluable returns.