Sponsors (5)
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress April 3, 2025
The bill provides modest federal grants to harden public venues, train staff, and support victim services to reduce harm from mass-violence, but risks uneven distribution of protection, potential civil liberties trade-offs, and a small fiscal cost.
Schools, churches, arenas, and other public assembly venues (and the state/local governments and nonprofits that run them) will receive federal training and technical assistance to harden facilities against mass-violence, strengthening prevention and response capabilities.
Staff and emergency systems at public assembly venues (including schools and hospitals) will get improved preparedness and training, which is likely to reduce casualties and improve survival in active-shooter and other mass-violence incidents.
Victim-service nonprofits will receive grant support to assist victims and offset response costs, improving post-incident care and recovery services for survivors and families.
Rural and under-resourced communities and small nonprofits may receive fewer awards, leaving those venues less prepared while wealthier or better-connected jurisdictions gain more protection.
Local governments and law enforcement could expand surveillance or preventative policing tied to definitions like 'targeted violence' and 'public assembly facility,' raising civil liberties concerns if safeguards are not enforced.
Taxpayers will fund $20 million in federal grants, a modest budget outlay that represents public spending which could be directed to other priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes $20 million in grants to states, local governments, and nonprofit victim-service organizations for training, technical assistance, and compensation to help public assembly facilities prepare for and protect against mass violence.
Provides a $20 million federal grant program to help states, local governments, and nonprofit victim-service organizations support public assembly facilities in preparing for and protecting against mass violence. Grants may fund compensation, training, and technical assistance and the law adds definitions for terms like “mass violence,” “active shooter,” “targeted violence,” and “public assembly facility.”