U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees 2300 15^th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
For Immediate Release July 19, 2005		CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600
SEN. SALAZAR FIGHTING TO DEFEAT INTERNATIONAL GANGS AMEND. WOULD HELP END ACTIVITIES IN COLORADO WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today announced the unanimous Senate approval of his anti-gang amendment to the Foreign Operations, Export Financial and Related Programs Appropriations Act, HR 3057. Senator Salazar’s amendment (SA1262) to HR 3057 sets aside $10 million for law enforcement programs to combat violent gangs in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, continuing his anti-gang efforts while serving as Colorado’s Attorney General. “By fighting gangs at their source, both in America and abroad, we can defeat these criminals and end their illegal activities in Colorado,” Senator Salazar said. The Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs, with 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities across the U.S. According to the FBI, “gangs are more violent, more organized, and more widespread than ever before. They pose one of the greatest threats to the safety and security of all Americans.” In addition, the FBI has noted that “the migration of MS-13 members and other Hispanic street gang members, such as 18th Street, from Southern California to other regions of this country has led to a rapid proliferation of these gangs in many smaller, suburban, and rural areas not accustomed to gang activity and related crimes.” For instance, Greeley alone faces 482 known and tracked gang members. The Senate will continue work on HR 3057 throughout the week and is expected to pass it early next week. It will then proceed to conference committee to iron out differences between House and Senate versions before being voted upon a second time by both the House and Senate. If the House and Senate both approve the conference report, it will go on to the President’s desk for signature or veto # # #