S. 2203 — Break the Cycle of Violence Act

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities—community-based nonprofits serving residents of eligible local governments and having a track record of activities or innovation in communities of color, or eligible units of local government (limited to 15% of title funds)—to support, enhance, and replicate coordinated community violence intervention initiatives. Grant funds must implement evidence-informed, trauma-responsive strategies focused on high-risk individuals that reduce community violence without contributing to mass incarceration and expand economic opportunities; local government grantees must distribute at least 75% of funds to community-based organizations, nonprofits, or non-law enforcement public violence prevention agencies, while hospital grantees (as nonprofits) must distribute at least 90% to direct service providers, program staff, or subcontractors. Applications must describe proposed uses, coordination to avoid duplication, evidence of likely violence reduction, and (for local governments) community steering committees and support letters; the Secretary prioritizes proposals maximizing violence reduction without mass incarceration, awards grants for 4-year periods based on scope and need, and provides a federal share of 90% of costs (exempt for nonprofits; waivable for local governments).

This section establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services the Office of Community Violence Intervention, to be headed by a director responsible for implementing this title. Of amounts available to carry out this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve up to 5% for the office's administrative expenses.

This section establishes a Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to provide advice and assistance to the Secretary and Office in carrying out this title, including (1) development of grant solicitations; (2) raising awareness about grant solicitations among potentially eligible units of government and organizations; (3) selection of grant proposals; (4) selection of grantees to receive supplemental funds under section 101(k); and (5) formation of the National Community Violence Response Center under section 104. It directs the Secretary, in appointing members, to select individuals with expertise in implementing or evaluating community violence intervention initiatives—including a workforce development expert selected by the Secretary of Labor—while ensuring the committee reflects culturally competent and trauma-informed approaches to preventing violence among high-risk individuals and includes substantial representation from communities of color disproportionately impacted by community violence.

This section establishes a National Community Violence Response Center, to be operated by the Secretary, with specified duties that include (1) developing, with an advisory committee, a 4-tier taxonomy to assess community violence infrastructure maturity among grantees under section 101 and providing related technical assistance; (2) developing and providing intensive site implementation support tailored to each tier for grantees, including assessment of local violence contours and ongoing aid to community-based organizations; (3) developing data collection policies for grantees on metrics such as safety, community health, opportunity youth engagement, economic development, and recidivism, and assisting with and collecting such data; (4) establishing a Community Violence Research Advisory Council—including representatives from federal research-funding agencies and the Bureau of Labor Statistics—to coordinate research, track federal expenditures, identify gaps, and report to Congress; (5) convening a biennial conference for grantees, support providers, and stakeholders on grant administration, challenges, strategies, practices, and trends, with a comprehensive report due to Congress and public website within 90 days; (6) promoting field expansion through collaboration, best practices dissemination, and plans to grow support providers, evaluate innovations, and sustain site support; and (7) submitting annual reports to Congress on national violence trends, center and office activities, and response improvement recommendations.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) community-based violence intervention programs effectively reduce reinjury and retaliation risks for victims of community violence while promoting their recovery and well-being; (2) young men, boys, girls, and women of color are disproportionately victimized by and underserved in response to community violence; and (3) states and territories should use Crime Victims Fund grants to support such programs serving direct and secondary victims at high risk of reinjury or involvement in community violence.

This section authorizes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for carrying out this title of $300 million for FY2026, $500 million for FY2027, and $700 million for each of FY2028 through FY2033, in addition to other authorized or available amounts.

This section directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities for year-round job training and workforce programs under WIOA §129(c)(1) and (c)(2)(C) (29 U.S.C. 3164(c)) targeting opportunity youth (i.e., out-of-school youth aged 16-24) in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence, for the purpose of connecting such youth to in-demand occupations. Eligible entities include (1) community-based nonprofits serving local residents with a track record in communities of color, technical skills training for opportunity youth, and programs addressing basic skills deficiencies and soft skills; (2) Indian Tribes or agencies primarily serving Native Americans; (3) WIOA entities focused on opportunity youth; (4) federally or state-recognized apprenticeship programs; (5) accredited community colleges; or (6) eligible local governments. Grantees must report to the Secretary on entry into training, education, apprenticeships, or work experiences and changes in school enrollment, unemployment, or weekly earnings for participants. The section defines "basic skills deficient" (i.e., youth with English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below 8th grade level or inability to compute, solve problems, or read/write/speak English at a functional level) and cross-references the WIOA definition of "in-demand occupation," and authorizes $1.5 billion for FY2026 through FY2033, to remain available until expended through FY2033.