Crime affects every area of our lives, from the safety of our children to the extra prices we pay for goods and services in our community. As a former social worker and a longtime advocate of crime prevention programs, I have been pushing for stricter policies and more enhanced resources for community programs.

As a member of the bi-partisan Congressional Victim Rights Caucus, I have advocated for and supported efforts to strengthen law enforcement and to provide much-needed assistance to the victims of crime and their families.  Some of my efforts have included the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act, and the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support and Education (PROMISE) Act. More recently, the House passed a resolution this past February that I introduced which focuses national attention on the prevalence of violent crime in urban areas and recognizes the plight of victims of urban crime. The resolution, H.Con.Res 227, establishes the second of February as “National Urban Crimes Awareness Week.” 

This Congress, I also supported legislation that expands the federal hate crimes law to help combat crimes committed because of a person’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.