House approves bill establishing $50 mln grant program to combat transnational gangs

A bill that would authorize $50 million in federal grants for state and local governments to combat gang activity through 2021 cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday with bipartisan support.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) introduced the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act in response to regional gang task forces seeing a rise in activity from MS-13 and other transnational gangs. Thirty percent of the bill’s funding would be directed to established gang task forces.

“Our communities need critical resources to battle violent transnational gangs like MS-13,” Comstock said. “The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act will help provide regional gang task forces with the resources necessary to protect our children and neighbors from the criminal activity of dangerous gangs like MS-13.”

The best approach to translational gang activity, Comstock added, requires education, intervention and prevention, and enforcement.

“I have seen firsthand the good work that gang task forces can do to remove the gang threats in our community,” she concluded. “They are an important tool in crime prevention, and this legislation will make sure they have the tools they need to take on violent gangs like MS-13.”

Jay Lanham, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Task Force, said passage of the bill would provide police forces new opportunities to obtain “badly needed funding” to counter gang activity.

“Rep. Comstock is intimately aware of the need to focus on these violent, predatory gangs,” Lanham said. “She is a long-time resident of Northern Virginia and knows first-hand the daunting task of curbing gang crime and violence. She has always been available to support the Task Force. I commend her for her continued support and leadership in returning funding to the Task Force.”

U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said local communities need backup to address “brutal transnational gangs,” and the bill would help develop evidence-based police to prevent crime and enhance coordination among federal, state and local authorities.