REPORTING GANG ACTIVITY

On 2026-01-08, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) delivered a floor speech titled "REPORTING GANG ACTIVITY" in the House. The speech addressed crime and justice and also covered agriculture.

REPORTING GANG ACTIVITY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H228] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REPORTING GANG ACTIVITY (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the bipartisan Gang Activity Reporting Act with the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Hinson), my fellow appropriator. This legislation has an urgent purpose: to give law enforcement the accurate, comprehensive data they need to combat gang violence and to keep our communities safe. From 2021 to 2024, law enforcement agencies reported more than 69,000 incidents of gang activity nationwide. Over half involved violent crime. Yet, today, Federal gang data remains fragmented, inconsistent, and incomplete. That gap puts officers at risk and leaves communities, especially in rural America, without the tools needed to respond effectively. Our bill would require the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress on gang activity investigations and prosecutions. While recent FBI data show violent crime trending downward, we know progress does not mean the work is all done. This legislation strengthens public safety, supports law enforcement, and helps protect families from Ohio to Iowa, and coast to coast. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support this critical Gang Activity Reporting Act. ____________________