WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), joined by seven Republican colleagues, introduced the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act to clarify and strengthen violent crime laws related to homicide, bank robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and other offenses. Specifically, the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act resolves discrepancies brought on by conflicting court decisions and clarifies congressional intent regarding crimes of violence and their respective penalties. This bill is the House companion to S. 4628 introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (IA).
“As a result of the Democrats’ ‘defund the police’ movement, soft-on-crime policies, and reckless bail reform efforts, far too many Americans have become victims of the deadly crime wave plaguing our neighborhoods,” said Congressman Tom Tiffany. “The American people want something done to make their streets safe again, and this bill will help defuse this explosion of crime by strengthening criminal penalties, protecting our children from drug poisonings, and putting dangerous predators where they belong – behind bars.”
“Crime is skyrocketing in communities across the country, with repeat violent offenders leaving people in many communities on edge as they go about their daily routines. This bill includes a number of commonsense fixes that give federal law enforcement the tools they need to step in where progressive prosecutors have failed. I’m grateful that momentum is building in the House of Representatives for this effort. It’s past time Congressional Democrats join the conversation to improve the safety of their constituents,” Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley said.
Background:
Many communities across the country continue to experience steadily increasing violent crime. Murder rates increased 30 percent in 2020 and continued climbing in 2021. Carjackings, particularly in urban areas are on the rise, with some cities recording up to 400 percent spikes. Overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 last year, with fentanyl appearing in a variety of substances, including candy-flavored drugs that are marketed to children. In Congressman Tiffany’s home county in Wisconsin, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office stated that last year, they saw more fentanyl overdose deaths than any other cause, including car accidents. 2021 also marked the deadliest year for law enforcement since the September 11 attacks in 2001.
The Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act addresses ambiguity and conflicting application of existing law by clarifying congressional intent without establishing sweeping new offense categories. Among other provisions, the bill:
- Clarifies that attempted bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery are punishable under the current bank robbery statute;
- Abolishes an outdated rule that prohibits perpetrators of violent crime from being charged with murder if the victim succumbs to injuries sustained by that violent crime 366 days after the attack;
- Rectifies conflicting circuit court decisions that have resulted in a higher burden to charge offenses like assaulting a police officer than Congress intended;
- Increases the statutory maximum penalty for carjacking and removes a duplicative intent requirement needed to charge a carjacking offense;
- Rectifies conflicting circuit court decisions by clarifying that an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense involving physical force meets the legal definition of a crime of violence;
- Outlaws the marketing of candy-flavored drugs to minors; and
- Establishes a new category of violent kidnapping offenses, allowing for greater penalties for violent kidnapping.
Rep. Tiffany led seven Members of Congress in introducing the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act, including: Ken Buck (CO-04), Steve Chabot (OH-01), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Mary Miller (IL-15), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and John Moolenaar (MI-04). For the Senate cosponsors, click here.
Groups supporting the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act include: The National District Attorneys Association, National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (NAAUSA), National Sheriffs Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, and Major Cities Chiefs Association.
The full text of the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act can be found here and a section-by-section can be found here.
