Skip to main content
H.R. 1820 112th Congress House

Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011

Official title: To fight criminal gangs.

Introduced: May 10, 2011 Introduced by: Frank Pallone, Jr. Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Academic performance and assessmentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdult education and literacyAssault and harassment offenses
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Child safety and welfareCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCrime preventionCrimes against propertyCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationFinancial literacyFirearms and explosivesGovernment studies and investigationsHousing and community development fundingIndian social and development programsJudicial procedure and administrationJuvenile crime and gang violenceLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersNational and community serviceOrganized crimePerformance measurementPhysical fitness and lifestylePublic housingSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsU.S. Sentencing CommissionViolent crime
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 29, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.
Jun 1, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 20, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
May 20, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
May 10, 2011
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 10, 2011
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action July 29, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to public and nonprofit private entities (including faith-based organizations) for projects involving innovative approaches to combat gang activity, (2) make grants to states and other entities to increase police presence and expand and improve cooperative efforts to address gang activity problems, and (3) designate high-intensity interstate gang activity areas.

Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) reauthorize programs for combating criminal gangs, including after-school programs and programs for safe and drug-free schools and communities; and (2) expand the grant program for workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders (30 years of age or younger).

Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to add provisions entitled the Public and Assisted Housing Gang Elimination Act of 2011 which authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to public housing agencies and private, for-profit, and nonprofit owners of federally assisted low-income housing for use in eliminating gang-related crime.

Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to award grants to assist communities located in a high-intensity interstate gang activity area in developing and carrying out programs that target certain at-risk youth and juvenile offenders, (2) reauthorize the gang resistance education and training projects program, and (3) increase funding for the National Youth Gang Survey.

Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize and expand adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects.

Directs the Attorney General to modify existing procedures and policies to improve the transition of federal prisoners into local communities.

Reauthorizes the National and Community Grant Service Program.

Amends the USA PATRIOT Act to provide funding to hire additional forensic examiners to fight gang activity.

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definition of "criminal street gang", (2) prohibit the recruitment or solicitation of persons to participate in a criminal street gang, (3) impose enhanced penalties for committing violent crimes in furtherance or in aid of a criminal street gang and for use of firearms by felons with multiple felony convictions for violent crimes and drug offenses, (4) increase penalties for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire or other felony crimes of violence, and (5) increase penalties for violent crimes in aid of racketeering activities.

Requires the United States Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend guidelines relating to violent gang-related crimes.

Amends the Uniform Federal Crime Reporting Act of 1988 to require the Attorney General to create a separate category in the United Crime Reports to distinguish criminal offenses committed by juveniles.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1820: Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1820/
MLA
"H.R. 1820: Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1820/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1820, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1820/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1820: Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1820/)
Report a problem