[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3714-S3715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 2671. A bill to provide Federal coordination and assistance in 
preventing gang violence; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President I rise today with my colleague Senator 
Feinstein to introduce a bill to combat gang violence and honor a young 
girl from California, Mynesha Crenshaw, who was killed last year in a 
tragic shooting.
  On November 13, 2005, a gang-related dispute broke out in San 
Bernardino, CA and gunfire sprayed an apartment building, killing 11-
year old Mynesha Crenshaw and seriously wounding her 14-year old sister 
as they ate Sunday dinner with their family.
  Imagine the fear and anguish the family and the community still feel 
over this tragedy a young girl, full of hope and promise, dead. Her big 
sister, wounded from the same gunfire, though thankfully she 
subsequently recovered. Imagine the fear that this could happen again. 
Our hearts and our prayers go out to Mynesha's family and to the entire 
community, which like so many others across the United States, has 
struggled with gang violence.
  Last year, there were 58 homicides in San Bernardino, a city of 
200,000 east of Los Angeles, and 13 more homicides so far this year. 
And just last month, two men were caught in a gang-related crossfire 
and died in Downtown San Bernardino. This has to stop. It is a waste of 
life; it is unacceptable.
  San Bernardino's diverse population of young people and their 
families face many challenges, but San Bernardino also has a vibrant 
and united community, strong leadership, and a desire to come together 
to improve their city.
  Mynesha Crenshaw's death galvanized over 1,000 residents to take to 
the streets, demanding change. And some 40 community and religious 
leaders, public officials, and concerned citizens from San Bernardino 
have joined together to form ``Mynesha's Circle'' to find solutions to 
the plague of gang violence and to help San Bernardino's young people 
grow up safe, finish school, and succeed in life.
  I applaud Mayor Patrick Morris, Police Chief Michael Billdt, 
community leaders Kent Paxton and Rev. Reggie Beamon and Robert Balzer, 
the publisher of the San Bernardino Sun, for taking up this cause.
  I want to also thank all the other members of ``Mynesha's Circle'' 
Sheryl Alexander, Betty Dean Anderson, Donald Baker, Fred Board, Ruddy 
Bravo, Hardy Brown, Cheryl Brown, Mark and Katrina Cato, Larry 
Ciecalone, Stephani Congdon, San Bernardino City Schools Superintendent 
Arturo Delgado, Tim Evans, San Bernardino County Schools Superintendent 
Herb Fischer, Rialto Schools Superintendent Edna Herring, Sheriff Rod 
Hoops, Syeda Jafri, Walter Jarman, Rev. David Kalke, CSU President Al 
Karnig, William Leonard, Sheriff Gary Penrod, DA Michael Ramos, Sandy 
Robbins, Doug Rowand, Larry Sharp, Ron Stark, Tori Stordahl, Heck 
Thomas, David Torres, Mark Uffer, San Bernardino Police Chief Gary 
Underwood, Councilmember Rikke Van Johnson, Bobby Vega, and the Sun 
Reader Advisory Board members: Daniel Blakely, Barbara Lee Harn Covey, 
Mark Henry, Julie Hernandez, Lynette Kaplan, Brenda Mackey, James 
Magnuson, Julian Melendez, Ernest Ott, Jeffrey Pryor, John Ragsdale, 
Glenda Randolph, Nora Taylor, and David Torres.
  I have pledged to do what I can at the Federal level to help San 
Bernardino. And that is why today I am introducing ``Mynesha's Law,'' 
with my colleague, Senator Feinstein.
  ``Mynesha's Law'' will create an interagency Task Force at the 
Federal level, including the Departments of Justice, Education, Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, to take a 
comprehensive approach to reducing gang violence and targeting 
resources at the communities in our nation most at risk. The resources 
will come from proven existing Federal programs, including Child Care 
Block Grants, Head Start, Even Start, Job Corps, COPS, Byrne Grants and 
other programs the Task Forces chooses.
  Communities will be able to apply to the Department of Justices for 
designation as a ``High-Intensity Gang Activity Area'' and then be 
eligible to receive targeted assistance from the Task Force.
  The Task Force will be required to report annually to Congress on the 
best practices and outcomes among the High-Intensity Gang Activity 
Areas and on the adequacy of Federal funding to meet the needs of these 
areas. If the Task Force identifies any programmatic shortfalls in 
addressing gang prevention, the report will also include a request for 
new funding or reprogramming of existing funds to meet the shortfalls 
and the bill authorizes such sums to be appropriated.

[[Page S3715]]

  In addition to ``Mynesha's Law,'' I am seeking a $1 million 
appropriation that the city of San Bernardino has requested to 
implement a comprehensive gang intervention and prevention strategy 
called ``San Bernardino Gang Free Schools.'' The program would fund 10 
probation officers to provide gang resistance and education training to 
57,000 students, as well as case management and oversight for at-risk 
youth.
  I am also requesting a $3 million appropriation to renovate and equip 
what may be the most important organization for at-risk young people in 
the area the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino.
  The Boys and Girls Club is one of the few safe and supportive places 
in San Bernardino where young people can go after school to get help 
with homework or play sports with their friends. Many community leaders 
believe the Boys and Girls Club is one of the best gang prevention 
programs in San Bernardino and has helped many young people stay in 
school and out of trouble.
  This tragic shooting of Mynesha Crenshaw symbolizes the struggle that 
so many communities across the United States, like San Bernardino, face 
in combating gang violence and serves as a reminder of the nationwide 
problem we face in protecting our children from senseless violence. I 
believe ``Mynesha's Law'' will help the children of San Bernardino, and 
across our nation, grow up safely so they can reach their dreams.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2671

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as ``Mynesha's Law''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds--
       (1) with an estimated 24,500 gangs operating within the 
     United States, gang violence and drug trafficking remain 
     serious problems throughout the country, causing injury and 
     death to innocent victims, often children;
       (2) on November 13, 2005, a gang-related dispute broke out 
     in San Bernardino, California, and gunfire sprayed an 
     apartment building, killing 11-year old Mynesha Crenshaw and 
     seriously wounding her 14-year old sister as they ate Sunday 
     dinner with their family;
       (3) this tragic shooting symbolizes the struggle that so 
     many communities across the United States, like San 
     Bernardino, face in combating gang violence, and serves as a 
     reminder of the nationwide problem of protecting children 
     from senseless violence;
       (4) according to the National Drug Threat Assessment, 
     criminal street gangs are responsible for the distribution of 
     much of the cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and other 
     illegal drugs throughout the United States;
       (5) the Federal Government has made an increased commitment 
     to the suppression of gang violence through enhanced law 
     enforcement and criminal penalties; and
       (6) more Federal resources and coordination are needed to 
     reduce gang violence through proven and proactive prevention 
     and intervention programs that focus on keeping at-risk youth 
     in school and out of the criminal justice system.

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION AS A HIGH-INTENSITY GANG ACTIVITY AREA.

       (a) In General.--A unit of local government, city, county, 
     tribal government, or a group of counties (whether located in 
     1 or more States) may submit an application to the Attorney 
     General for designation as a High-Intensity Gang Activity 
     Area.
       (b) Criteria.--
       (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall establish 
     criteria for reviewing applications submitted under 
     subsection (a).
       (2) Considerations.--In establishing criteria under 
     subsection (a) and evaluating an application for designation 
     as a High-Intensity Gang Activity Area, the Attorney General 
     shall consider--
       (A) the current and predicted levels of gang crime activity 
     in the area;
       (B) the extent to which violent crime in the area appears 
     to be related to criminal gang activity;
       (C) the extent to which the area is already engaged in 
     local or regional collaboration regarding, and coordination 
     of, gang prevention activities; and
       (D) such other criteria as the Attorney General determines 
     to be appropriate.

     SEC. 4. PURPOSE OF THE TASK FORCE.

       (a) In General.--In order to coordinate Federal assistance 
     to High-Intensity Gang Activity Areas, the Attorney General 
     shall establish an Interagency Gang Prevention Task Force (in 
     this Act referred to as the ``Task Force''), consisting of a 
     representative from--
       (1) the Department of Justice;
       (2) the Department of Education;
       (3) the Department of Labor;
       (4) the Department of Health and Human Services; and
       (5) the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
       (b) Coordination.--For each High-Intensity Gang Activity 
     Area designated by the Attorney General under section 3, the 
     Task Force shall--
       (1) coordinate the activities of the Federal Government to 
     create a comprehensive gang prevention response, focusing on 
     early childhood intervention, at-risk youth intervention, 
     literacy, employment, and community policing; and
       (2) coordinate its efforts with local and regional gang 
     prevention efforts.
       (c) Programs.--The Task Force shall prioritize the needs of 
     High-Intensity Gang Activity Areas for funding under--
       (1) the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
       (2) the Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of 
     title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.);
       (3) the Healthy Start Initiative under section 330H of the 
     Public Health Services Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-8);
       (4) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);
       (5) the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program 
     under part B of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7171 et seq.);
       (6) the Job Corps program under subtitle C of title I of 
     the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2881 et 
     seq.);
       (7) the community development block grant program under 
     title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 
     (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);
       (8) the Gang Resistance Education and Training projects 
     under subtitle X of title III of the Violent Crime Control 
     and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13921);
       (9) any program administered by the Office of Community 
     Oriented Policing Services;
       (10) the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program under 
     part R of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
     Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796ee et seq.);
       (11) the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
     Program under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus 
     Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et 
     seq.); and
       (12) any other program that the Task Force determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (d) Reporting Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than February 1 of each year, 
     the Task Force shall submit to Congress and the Attorney 
     General a report on the funding needs and programmatic 
     outcomes for each area designated as a High-Intensity Gang 
     Activity Area.
       (2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
     include--
       (A) an evidence-based analysis of the best practices and 
     outcomes among the areas designated as High-Intensity Gang 
     Activity Areas; and
       (B) an analysis of the adequacy of Federal funding to meet 
     the needs of each area designated as a High-Intensity Gang 
     Activity Area and, if the Task Force identifies any 
     programmatic shortfalls in addressing gang prevention, a 
     request for new funding or reprogramming of existing funds to 
     meet such shortfalls.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to meet any needs identified in any report 
     submitted under section 4(d)(1).
                                 ______