Sec. 2. Findings and purpose
188 words·~1 min read·
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Congress finds the following: The recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Sydney, New York City, Ottawa, and London demonstrate that violent Islamist extremism is on the rise and that the threat from homegrown terrorism is growing. The United States and the West are the leading targets of Islamist extremist propaganda and terrorist recruitment. Terrorist groups are seeking to enlist a new generation of extremists and are using sophisticated tools, including social media, to radicalize across borders.
State and local authorities are on the frontlines of combating domestic radicalization and need the appropriate tools to deter, detect, and disrupt extremist efforts to influence and recruit Americans. Too few initiatives exist to help communities understand the threat, prevent domestic radicalization, counter the narrative of extremists, and provide pathways to deradicalization for individuals who have become radicalized so they do not resort to violence. The purpose of this Act is to authorize the use of Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program funds for countering violent Islamist extremism and to ensure that State and local officials are aware that Federal resources are available for this urgent homeland security priority.