STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to support S. 2358, the Anti-Gang Act. This critical legislation will provide State and Federal law enforcement with the tools and resources needed to successfully fight the expanding presence of violent gangs that bring drugs like methamphetamine into our communities.
Time and time again, we in Congress have heard the call of prosecutors and law enforcement for more resources to combat the problem of gang violence. The Anti-Gang Act gives local prosecutors and law enforcement what they have asked Congress for most-targeted financial assistance. The bill will help combat the growth and proliferation of violent gangs by authorizing funds for the cooperative prevention, investigation, and prosecution of gang crimes. In addition, grant money will be made available for the protection of witnesses and victims of gang violence. These funds will not be tied to restrictive formulas that would keep the majority of the assistance from reaching suburban and rural communities. This money will be able to go to the communities in Wisconsin and the rest of the country where rural and smaller law enforcement agencies are financially limited in their ability to deal with the exploding increase in gang violence associated with methamphetamines and other narcotics.
The Anti-Gang Act also promotes hiring and long-term service of highly qualified prosecutors and public defenders by establishing a student loan forgiveness program. Prosecuting gangs is some of the most demanding and challenging work a prosecutor will tackle. Loan forgiveness will allow Assistant District Attorneys and Assistant Attorney Generals to remain in public service and allow them to take their wealth of experience and use it to combat gang violence.
The Anti-Gang Act also replaces the current Federal RICO statute that was never intended to be used against violent street gangs with a tough statute that not only criminalizes participation in criminal street gangs, but addresses the serious problem of the recruitment and retention of gang members. The Anti-Gang Act targets gang violence and gang crimes in a logical, straightforward manner. The bill also recognizes that the vast majority of gang investigations and prosecutions have been and will continue to be done at the State and local level. The bill requires that Federal prosecutors consult with State and local law enforcement before seeking an indictment and that a Federal prosecution is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.
Finally, the Anti-Gang Act will provide Congress with the data necessary to decide whether to expand the Federal role in prosecuting juvenile offenders by requiring a comprehensive report on the current treatment of juveniles by the States and the capability of the Federal criminal justice system to take on more juvenile cases and to house additional prisoners. Some have proposed indicting and prosecuting more juveniles in Federal courts as a way of combating gang violence without being able to tell us why this is necessary and what effect it might have on the criminal justice system. With this review, Congress can intelligently consider whether to expand the Federal role in prosecuting juveniles.
Our citizens should be able to send their children to school, use their parks and walk their streets without fearing that ever-spreading gang violence will grow unfettered in their community. The Anti-Gang Act is an important step towards making all of our neighborhoods safe and I urge my colleagues to support it.