Spotlight: Anti-Crime Bills In The Works
By a Biometrica staffer
This midterm election season, along with the state of the economy, the country’s crime rate has been under the scanner. Forty percent of U.S. registered voters said crime is an extremely important issue when it comes to their vote, according to a Gallup survey. With that, crime ranks third on the list of issues that are extremely important to voters. The economy ranked first (with 49% of voters choosing it in the Gallup survey), followed by abortion (with 42% of voters picking it). There has been some debate on how bad the rate of crime truly is.
The FBI’s recent Crime in the Nation data shows that estimated violent crime volumes were trending down in 2021, while the estimated number of murders increased. But, some say the data is based on low participation rates from law enforcement and doesn’t give an entire picture of the state of crime in the country. Overall, experts agree that crime did spike in 2020 but trends since then have been a mixed bag. Nevertheless, crime rates are definitely on the minds of many Americans at the moment.
Lawmakers, too, appear to be examining the state of crime in the country going by the number of proposed bills in the pipeline. Here’s a brief look at ten pieces of anti-crime legislation and resolutions that were introduced last month.
H. Res.1425 – “National Nonviolence Week”
The bill resolution in brief: To support the goals and ideals of “National Nonviolence Week” to raise awareness of youth violence in the United States.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 4. An identical resolution was also introduced in the House on Oct. 8. For more on that, click here.
As part of the resolution, the House also: “encourages the people of the United States, State and local officials, middle schools and high schools, law enforcement agencies, and other interested groups to observe “National Nonviolence Week” with appropriate programs and activities that promote awareness and prevention of youth violence.”
You can find the full text of the resolution here.
H.R.9125 – Safe Leave for Victims of Domestic Violence Act
The bill in brief: To amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to permit leave for an employee to meet their needs related to being a victim of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking, and for other purposes.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 4. The bill has one, the original, co-sponsor so far.
Among other aspects, the bill seeks to make some amendments to terms including dating violence, domestic violence, sex trafficking, sexual assault, and stalking under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612).
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9133 – FASTER Act of 2022
The bill in brief: Requires financial institutions to freeze the assets of individuals arrested under suspicion of participating in domestic terrorism or providing material support to terrorists, to establish a national clearinghouse for information on incidents of homegrown “lone wolf” terrorism, domestic terrorism, and persons providing material support to terrorists, and for other purposes.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 4. The bill has one, the original, co-sponsor so far.
The long title of this bill is the “Freezing Assets of Suspected Terrorists and Enemy Recruits Act of 2022.”
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9136 – Campus Accountability and Safety Act
The bill in brief: Seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)) and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to combat campus sexual assault, and for other purposes.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 4. The bill has 33 co-sponsors so far. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate on Sept. 29. For more on that bill, click here.
Among other amendments, this bill seeks to increase transparency around campus safety. It seeks to allow for the establishment of “a publicly available, searchable, accessible, and user-friendly campus safety website.”
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9177 – Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2022
The bill in brief: Seeks to combat organized crime involving the illegal acquisition of retail goods for the purpose of selling those illegally obtained goods through physical and online retail marketplaces.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 14. The bill has four co-sponsors so far. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate on Sept. 29. For more on that bill, click here.
The reason why this bill is important, per the text of the bill, is because: “organized retail crime, a crime involving groups of individuals specifically targeting retail stores, often by using violence or threats of violence to subdue employees and shoppers while robbing stores of their most valuable and easily diverted merchandise, has been a growing concern to retailers, industry, and law enforcement.”
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9188 – Auto Theft Prevention Act
The bill in brief: Seeks to provide funding to State and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking, and for other purposes.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 14. The bill has seven co-sponsors so far.
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9195 – Gang Activity Reporting Act of 2022
The bill in brief: Seeks to amend title 28, United States Code, to require the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress on gang activity, reporting, investigation, and prosecution, and for other purposes.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 18. The bill has three co-sponsors so far. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate on Sept. 28. For more on that bill, click here.
The text of the bill says: “The United States is experiencing an unprecedented surge in violent crime, including an increase of more than 30 percent in the rate of murders since 2020. The most recent Department of Justice data regarding gangs and criminal activity, published in the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, indicated that gangs were responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in the United States.”
“Up-to-date, accurate, and consistent reporting from the relevant Federal agencies relating to gang activity in the United States is a foundational element in enabling policymakers to enact effective, evidence-based policy that protects the people of the United States from gang activity.”
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9207 – Keep Americans Safe Act
The bill in brief: This bill establishes a new criminal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD).
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 21. The bill has 105 co-sponsors so far. Five related bills have been introduced, in both the House and the Senate. For more on those, click here.
The bill does not prohibit certain conduct with respect to an LCAFD, including the following:
- importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments;
- importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and
- possession by a retired law enforcement officer.
The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. It seeks to require that newly manufactured LCAFDs display serial number identification and the date of manufacture.
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.R.9235 – Supporting Women COPS Act of 2022
The bill in brief: Seeks to establish a Task Force on Women in Law Enforcement to study and develop national hiring standards for law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 25. The bill has one, the original, co-sponsor so far.
The bill proposes a Task Force composed of 15 members appointed by the Attorney General.
You can find the full text of the bill here.
H.Res.1451 – Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2022
The resolution in brief: Seeks to support the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Further, it expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should continue to raise awareness of and support programs to end domestic violence.
It was introduced in the House on Oct. 28.
You can find the full text of the resolution here.