[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2731-S2732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 3249 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3249) to authorize the Project Safe 
     Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Cornyn 
substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, and the 
bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2245) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, 
as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

[[Page S2732]]

  


     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 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.--The Attorney General shall issue guidance 
     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) Task Forces.--Thirty percent of the amounts made 
     available as grants under the Program each fiscal year shall 
     be granted to Gang Task Forces in regions experiencing a 
     significant or increased presence of criminal or 
     transnational organizations engaging in high levels of 
     violent crime, firearms offenses, human trafficking, and drug 
     trafficking.
       (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 or transnational organization 
     described in subsection (c).

     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.

  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the 
bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the 
question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (H.R. 3249), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________