Horsford Marks 33rd Anniversary of Father’s Murder by Introducing Critical Legislation to fund Community Violence Intervention

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) today marked the 33rd anniversary of his father’s murder by reintroducing his Break the Cycle of Violence Act.

The legislation, which has 82 original co-sponsors, would provide $6.5 billion in evidence-based community violence intervention (CVI) and prevention programs to interrupt cycles of violence. Funding includes:

• $5 billion to community-based, nonprofit organizations and local governments to support anti-violence programs; and
• $1.5 billion in workforce training and job opportunities for at-risk youths.

When coupled with common sense violence prevention policies, CVI investments are proven to cut urban gun violence rates in half in just two years.

“Community violence intervention programs save lives and help communities thrive,” Rep. Horsford said. “At 19, I lost my father to senseless gun violence – I know in deeply personal terms exactly how harmful not having these investments can be. But I also saw over the course of a decade running Nevada’s largest job retraining program how new opportunities lead to new beginnings for people willing to put in the work for a brighter future. The Break the Cycle of Violence Act is the legislation I wrote to protect other families from enduring what mine endured, and I will continue introducing it every Congress until it’s signed into law.”

Rep. Horsford has previously introduced The Break the Cycle of Violence Act twice, passing it through the House of Representatives in 2022 and reaching a new high of 112 total co-sponsors in 2024.

Horsford’s legislation comes less than two months after the Trump Administration cut 373 grants from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs grants – worth approximately $820 million. The largest share of the cuts impacted community-based violence intervention — programs that range from conflict mediation and de-escalation to hospital-based initiatives that seek to prevent retaliation from people who experience violent injuries. 

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act is proudly endorsed by Community Justice, Sandy Hook Promise, Giffords Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy, and Everytown for Gun Safety.

"Over the last several years, cities across the country finally saw decreases in homicides and shootings, and that is only because of significant federal investment in community violence intervention (CVI) strategies,” Adzi Vokhiwa, Vice President of Policy at Community Justice, said. “However, Black and Brown communities continue to bear the brunt of gun violence. Without a doubt, more funding is needed to support CVI programs especially after the cancellation of many federal CVI grant awards earlier this year. If signed into law, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act would provide the largest federal investment in community-based and community-led efforts to end gun violence, expand workforce training for youth at the highest risk of violence, and help ensure the implementation of a public health approach to gun violence prevention. We thank Congressman Horsford and Senator Booker for recognizing the effectiveness and importance of CVI strategies and introducing this important legislation to save lives across the country.”

“Gun violence manifests itself differently across U.S. communities, with children in many Black and Brown communities being disproportionally affected as well as children living in areas with high poverty rates,” Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, said. “Lives can and will be saved when local leaders are equipped with the tools, training, and resources to address the unique circumstances of violence in their regions. We applaud the reintroduction of the ‘Break the Cycle of Violence Act,’ and encourage Congress to pass this important bill to protect children throughout our country.” 

“Seemingly never-ending cycles of gun violence crush families, hurt the economy, and suppress communities' ability to thrive. In particular, Black and Latino Americans bear the brunt of America's gun violence and gun crime epidemic. But we have strategies and programs that are proven to save lives—all they need is sufficient funding,”Emma Brown, Executive Director of the national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, said. “Every lawmaker, Republicans and Democrats alike, should support Representative Horsford and Senator Booker’s Break the Cycle of Violence Act. This bill, which GIFFORDS is proud to have shaped, will not only fund essential programs, but also provide jobs to American youth that will allow them to thrive and break the cycle of violence.”

“Communities most impacted by gun violence need real resources—and the Break the Cycle of Violence Act delivers,” Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action, said. “It invests in proven, lifesaving programs and puts support where it’s needed most: in the hands of grassroots leaders. We’re grateful to Rep. Horsford for reintroducing this critical bill.” 

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act provisions include: 

• $5 billion investment in anti-violence programs to create and support violence interruption and crisis management initiatives.
• $1.5 billion investment in workforce training and job opportunities, including improved youth employment and training activities, paid work experience for school aged youth, and partnerships with community-based organizations to serve youth in high-crime and high-poverty areas.
• An Office of Community Violence Intervention at HHS to implement evidence-based violence reduction initiatives.
• A Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to ensure people with expertise in community violence intervention have a voice in CVI policies.
• A National Community Violence Response Center to provide technical assistance for implementing community violence intervention and prevention programs.

###