WASHINGTON (August 3, 2007) – Today, Congressman Chandler introduced the Safe Neighborhoods Expansion Act of 2007, a bill that would enable law enforcement agencies to better combat criminal gang activity.

This legislation calls for the expansion of the successful Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Initiative to include measures to fight illegal gang activity. Since PSN began in 2001, the program has focused on combating violent gun crimes, and federal firearms prosecutions have increased by 73 percent. This bill will expand the reach of this program to include resources to identify, investigate and prosecute criminal gangs.

"The rise of gang activity in many areas of our country greatly disturbs me," said Congressman Chandler. "In Kentucky, illegal drug activity has been linked to criminal gangs—including an increasing number of gangs with ties to Central and South American nations."

Illegal gang activity—often tied to drug trafficking—continues to spread to more and more communities across the country. The 2007 National Drug Threat Assessment reported that Mexican and South American drug trafficking organizations are gaining dominance over domestic drug trafficking. This expansion of drug distribution and criminal gang activity has now proliferated into smaller rural communities. The Assessment also mentioned the challenges that local law enforcement agencies face because many of these groups are based outside of the United States and have well-established transportation networks throughout the country.

"It is absolutely critical that we find ways for law enforcement officers to better combat these dangerous trends that can so easily destroy our communities," said Chandler. "Thankfully, this bill will help provide much needed resources so that law enforcement agencies are better equipped to deal with these threats."

This bill would also direct resources to coordination efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies so they can better combat criminal gang and drug- related activity.

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