Walker to Introduce Legislation to Assist State, Locals in Countering Violent Extremism

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced he will soon introduce the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Grants Act. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, will join in co-sponsoring the bill.

H.R. ___, the CVE Grants Act, will assist state and local authorities on the frontlines of combating domestic radicalization by authorizing the use of Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security grants to deter, detect, and disrupt radical Islamist extremists' efforts to influence and recruit Americans. The bill will also require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to monitor the use of these grants for this purpose so we can better measure the success of these programs.

"As we continue to witness more and more barbaric acts -- whether it's Boko Haram in Africa or ISIS in the Middle East -- we must never become desensitized to violent extremists and their actions. The Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Grants Act works to combat these groups on our home front," said Rep. Walker. "CVE grants are centered on state and local law enforcement partnerships, and this legislation, which is a budget neutral solution, makes these vital grants a stated goal for the Department of Homeland Security."

"While ISIS and other jihadists groups continue to tailor their hateful and repressive ideology in order to appeal to and radicalize a younger generation within the United States and around the world, the president still refuses to call the threat what it is," said Chairman McCaul. "We must wage a more robust effort here at home to combat violent Islamist extremism by working with local communities to intervene when we see signs of it. As such, the CVE Grants Act will help state and local authorities by giving them the tools they need to root out the would be terrorist in our hometowns."

The Committee is currently conducting a review of the U.S. strategy for countering violent extremism. As part of the review, Chairman McCaul has also sent numerous letters to the White House expressing his concern for the way they are handling this threat, with no response.

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