Washington, DC-Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) today asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the Department of Justice's initiative, Project Safe Neighborhoods.
"When I speak with local police chiefs and sheriffs in south Mississippi they all agree we need to fund street level outreach, education, and employment opportunities that combat gun and gang violence," Palazzo said.
"To that point, can you please tell me what is your request for the Project Safe Neighborhoods program and how will it help to address the ongoing violence in neighborhoods throughout the country?"
Sessions replied by saying, "It's $140 Million...not going to the federal government, but to your local law officers in the form of a grant. And the goal of it would be to help our local grant recipients create task forces and partnerships to be more effective in their neighborhoods."
Project Safe Neighborhood is intended to develop and promote community outreach programs dedicated to reducing gun and gang violence. The program was revived by Sessions in October 2017 and was originally created in 2001 in order to curb gun violence by strengthening mechanisms to prosecute those crimes and increasing communication between local communities and federal law enforcement.
The hearing was held by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
