Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (VA-10) has won another battle in effort to provide for the safety of her constituents in Northern Virginia. According to a press release, her legislation put forth to establish a grant program to provide resources to law enforcement officials to combat the rise in transnational gang violence has passed through the House.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act establishes a $50 million federal grant annually for 2019 through 2021. 30 percent of the appropriated amounts will go directly to already-established gang task forces, like the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, who are experiencing elevated transnational gang activity from gangs such as MS-13.
Comstock stated:
“I have seen firsthand the good work that gang taskforces can do to remove the gang threats in our community. 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.”
The program authorization will help steer federal funding towards frontline forces in the Commonwealth like the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. The community policing involved with the organization includes bilingual officers who understand gang culture and are familiar with immigrant communities. ICE officials complement these efforts by removing the dangerous members, allowing the Task Force to work in the area’s high-risk schools on gang prevention and education. The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, comprised of 13 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, explains that, “the best anti-gang method is a three-pronged approach: education, intervention/prevention, and enforcement.”
Jay Lanham, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force was very pleased with the annoucnement, stating:
“I would like to thank Congresswoman Comstock for her unwavering support of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. She understands in detail the need for continued enforcement and intervention/prevention/education programs to combat the illicit gang activity in Northern Virginia. Her support is readily apparent in the introduction and passage of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act, which will provide much needed financial support for the Task Force. This funding is sorely needed to bring intervention/prevention programs back to counter our youth joining dangerous street gangs, such as MS-13 and to support ongoing suppression efforts. Rep. Comstock has led the way in returning funding to the Task Force and her leadership is very much appreciated.”
Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), applauded the House’s approval of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act. It will bolster the forces against transnational gangs in the U.S. along with the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act singed into law late last year. The bill was introduced by Comstock and Goodlatte, as well as Congressman Peter King (NY-2) and Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Labrador (ID-1).
Through a press release, Goodlatte stated:
“Gang violence plagues many communities across the United States, and the Commonwealth of Virginia has been particularly hard-hit by this problem. Last year, Raymond Wood was killed by suspected members of MS-13 in the congressional district that I represent. As gangs have infiltrated our neighborhoods, we must ensure local law enforcement officers have the resources needed to prevent and combat gang violence and activity. The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act provides much-needed tools for state and local law enforcement agencies to address gang activity. I thank Congresswoman Comstock for her dedication to eradicating this public safety crisis and call on the Senate to pass this bill.”
