[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2264-S2265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Peters):
  S. 2703. A bill to authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant 
Program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, 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. 2703

       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 the ``Project Safe Neighborhoods 
     Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act--
       (1) the term ``firearms offenses'' means an offense under 
     section 922 or 924 of title 18, United States Code;
       (2) the term ``Program'' means the Project Safe 
     Neighborhoods Block Grant Program established under section 
     3; and
       (3) the term ``transnational organized crime group'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 36(k)(6) of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 
     2708(k)(6)).

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

       The Attorney General of the United States is authorized to 
     establish and carry out a program, to be known as the 
     ``Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program'' within the 
     Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice.

     SEC. 4. PURPOSE.

       (a) Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program.--The 
     purpose of the Program is to foster and improve existing 
     partnerships between Federal, State, and local

[[Page S2265]]

     agencies, including the United States Attorney in each 
     Federal judicial district, entities representing members of 
     the community affected by increased violence, victims' 
     advocates, and researchers to create safer neighborhoods 
     through sustained reductions in violent crimes by--
       (1) developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans 
     to reduce violent crimes, including the enforcement of gun 
     laws, and prioritizing efforts focused on identified subsets 
     of individuals or organizations responsible for increasing 
     violence in a particular geographic area;
       (2) developing evidence-based and data-driven intervention 
     and prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice 
     projects and activities which may include street-level 
     outreach, conflict mediation, provision of treatment and 
     social services, and the changing of community norms, in 
     order to reduce violence; and
       (3) collecting data on outcomes achieved through the 
     Program, including the effect on the violent crime rate, 
     incarceration rate, and recidivism rate of the jurisdiction.
       (b) Additional Purpose Areas.--In addition to the purpose 
     described in subsection (a), the Attorney General may use 
     funds authorized under this Act for any of the following 
     purposes--
       (1) competitive and evidence-based programs to reduce gun 
     crime and gang violence;
       (2) the Edward Byrne criminal justice innovation program;
       (3) community-based violence prevention initiatives; or
       (4) gang and youth violence education, prevention and 
     intervention, and related activities.

     SEC. 5. RULES AND REGULATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall promulgate 
     rules to create, carry out, and administer the Program in 
     accordance with this section.
       (b) Funds To Be Directed to Local Control.--Amounts made 
     available as grants under the Program shall be, to the 
     greatest extent practicable, locally controlled to address 
     problems that are identified locally.
       (c) Regional Gang Task Forces.--30 percent of the amounts 
     made available as grants under the Program each fiscal year 
     shall be granted to established Regional Gang Task Forces in 
     regions experiencing a significant or increased presence of, 
     or high levels of activity from, transnational organized 
     crime groups posing threats to community safety in terms of 
     violent crime, firearms offenses, human trafficking, drug 
     trafficking, and other crimes.
       (d) Priority.--Amounts made available as grants under the 
     Program shall be used to prioritize the investigation and 
     prosecution of individuals who have an aggravating or 
     leadership role in a criminal organization.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney 
     General to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2019 through 2021.
                                 ______