PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: February 6, 2007
Contact: Abigail Shilling (202) 225-6365

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, announced today the unveiling of an aggressive crime package addressing important issues including gang violence and creating more stringent penalties for terrorists, drug traffickers and child pornography.

“I’m proud to join in the launch of America’s Law and Order Agenda in the 110th Congress, along with my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee. Arming our law enforcement officers and prosecutors with the tools they need to tear down the national criminal gang networks is the first step in the fight against gang violence,” said Forbes. “This package of legislation, if signed into law, would combat the significant gang presence and abundance of criminal activity that has recently arisen too rapidly across our nation.”

The package included Forbes’ “Gangbuster Bill,” The Gang Deterrence & Community Protection Act of 2007. This bill would take serious steps in addressing gang crime by increasing penalties for violent crime and funding law enforcement and prosecution technologies and techniques to combat gang activity. This legislation previously passed the House of Representatives in the 109th Congress, but did not obtain passage in the Senate.

America’s Law and Order Agenda also includes the following bills:

· The “Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act of 2007,” introduced by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith;

· The “Cyber-Security Enhancement and Data Protection Act of 2007,” introduced by Ranking Member Lamar Smith;

· The “Death Penalty Reform Act of 2007,” introduced by Crime Subcommittee Deputy Ranking Member Louie Gohmert;

· The “Criminal Terrorism Improvements Act of 2007,” introduced by Congressman Dan Lungren;

· The “Criminal Restitution Improvement Act of 2007,” introduced by Congressman Steve Chabot;

· The “Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2007,” introduced by Congressman Steve Chabot;

· The “Drug Trafficking Elimination Act of 2007,” introduced by Congressman Ric Keller; and,

· The “Death for Terrorists Act of 2007” introduced by Congressman John Carter.

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