Dreier Hails Passage of “Gangbusters” Bill

May 12, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted this week to approve legislation to crack down on gangs and gang violence. The bill, H.R. 1279, the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005, creates a system for cracking down on gangs similar to the system used against organized crime and racketeering organizations in the 1970's and 80's. The bill also imposes tough mandatory sentences for gang-related crimes, including even tougher sentences for gang members who are illegal aliens. H.R. 1279 was approved on May 11 by a broad bipartisan vote of 279-144.

“It is clear that gang violence is out of control in this country and that we need to do everything we can to take action,” Dreier said. “Within the past five years, there were more than 300 gang-related homicides in Los Angeles County, and more than 200 in San Bernardino County. But gangs have become not just local problems, but national and international organizations that cannot be defeated without the cooperation of federal, state and local officials.”

During consideration of the bill, three amendments were adopted to require additional jail time if a violent gang offender is an illegal alien, and to require the federal government to report information on the immigration status of illegal gang members and study the link between illegal aliens and gang membership. “One of the things that we found, tragically, is that gang violence is directly related to the problem of illegal immigration. I applaud the adoption of these amendments, however, as we keep these illegal alien criminals off the streets, we must provide the federal funding necessary to help our local law enforcement cope with the costs of incarcerating them.”

H.R. 1279 authorizes nearly $400 million in funding to create gang enforcement teams consisting of federal, state and local authorities, hire additional prosecutors and maintain gang information databases. Under the bill, gang members who commit crimes resulting in death will serve life in prison or face the death penalty. In addition, most violent crimes will be punishable by at least ten years in jail, with at least thirty years in jail for kidnaping, maiming, or violent sexual assault.

DREIER ON H.R. 1279: DIAL-UP / BROADBAND