Securing American Families by Educating and Training You (SAFETY) Through Nonviolence Act of 2019
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the effects of community violence by providing education, mentoring, and counseling related to principles of nonviolence in conflict resolution. Eligible entities include state or local government entities, educational institutions, nonprofit communities, and faith-based organizations.
In awarding grants under the program, DOJ shall give priority to applicants that agree to use the grant funds in at least one community that can certify (1) an increased or sustained level of violence or tension in the community; or (2) a lack of resources to adopt innovative, integrated, community-based violence prevention programs.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4167 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4167
To authorize the Attorney General to award grants to eligible entities
to prevent or alleviate community violence by providing education,
mentoring, and counseling services to children, adolescents, teachers,
families, and community leaders on the principles and practice of
nonviolence.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 6, 2019
Mr. Lewis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Attorney General to award grants to eligible entities
to prevent or alleviate community violence by providing education,
mentoring, and counseling services to children, adolescents, teachers,
families, and community leaders on the principles and practice of
nonviolence.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Securing American Families by
Educating and Training You (SAFETY) Through Nonviolence Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The concept and practice of nonviolent thoughts, words,
and actions have a history and a legacy in the United States
and the global community.
(2) In the 19th century, American philosophers and authors
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were leaders of the
transcendentalist philosophical movement which emphasized the
potential good of humanity, the importance of truth, and the
courage and power of peace.
(3) In the early 20th century, Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi
advanced the concepts and practices of ahimsa, or non-injury,
and satya, or truth as integral to social and active concepts
and practices.
(4) Gandhi continued Thoreau's ideas of Civil Disobedience
in developing the doctrine of satyagraha which connects truth
and nonviolence to active efforts in nonviolent, civil
disobedience.
(5) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., built upon these
philosophies in developing six principles of nonviolence. He
explained these to be a way of life which sought to build
friendships and understanding, defeat injustice, accept
suffering as a way to educate and transform, and to choose love
instead of hate. Nonviolence's strength is reinforced by the
universe siding with justice.
(6) Rev. James E. Lawson, Jr., a leading theorist and
strategist, helped spread the philosophy and doctrine of
nonviolence by organizing and teaching workshops to young
activists during the American Civil Rights Movement.
(7) During his Presidency, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
expanded the spirit of ubuntu, the African philosophy of the
interconnectedness, caring, sharing, and harmony of humanity,
throughout the world.
(8) According to the 2019 Global Peace Index, violence cost
$14,100,000,000 in constant purchasing power parity terms or
$1,853 per person in 2018. The fiscal loss resulting from
conflict greatly exceeds investments in peacebuilding and
peacekeeping.
(9) Given its proven success and evolution, the philosophy
and doctrine of nonviolence can and should play an important
role in breaking the cycle and reducing the frequency of
violence throughout the United States and as a model to the
global community.
(10) These lessons, principles, and practices should be
made available to Americans of all ages and backgrounds in all
parts of the country.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO EDUCATE AMERICANS ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
OF NONVIOLENCE.
(a) Grants.--The Attorney General may make grants to eligible
entities to prevent or alleviate the effects of community violence by
providing education, mentoring, and counseling regarding the principles
and application of nonviolence in conflict resolution.
(b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Attorney
General shall give priority to applicants that agree to use the grant
in one or more eligible urban, rural, tribal, and suburban communities
that can certify--
(1) an increased or sustained level of violence or tension
in the community; or
(2) a lack of monetary or other resources to adopt
innovative, integrated, community-based violence prevention
programs.
(c) Limitation.--The Attorney General may not make a grant to an
eligible entity under this section unless the entity agrees to use not
less than 70 percent of such grant for nonviolence-prevention education
and program development.
(d) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``eligible entity''
means a State or local government entity (including law enforcement),
educational institution, nonprofit community, or faith-based
organization.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $60,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2020 through 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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