Biden Administration Proposes $85 Million in Grants to Combat Youth Gun Violence

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Updated Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6:22 AM CDT

Biden Administration Proposes $85 Million in Grants to Combat Youth Gun Violence

In a significant move to address gun violence and crime, the Biden administration has announced its plan to offer $85 million in federal grants aimed at improving job opportunities for young people in communities plagued by these issues. The grants are part of a broader initiative to foster immediate needs while promoting long-term recovery and resilience in affected areas.

As gun violence becomes the leading cause of premature death among youth in America, the urgency for action has intensified. Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman and husband to Vice President Kamala Harris, is expected to speak on this critical initiative on Wednesday, highlighting the administration's commitment to tackling the crisis.

Advocates like Greg Jackson, the deputy director, are calling for an all-of-government public health approach to effectively combat what President Joe Biden has termed "the ultimate superstorm" of gun violence. In response, the White House has taken a definitive step by establishing an office of gun violence prevention.

The targeted grants will support community organizations, government leaders, and other eligible ent*****, including nonprofits, in their concerted efforts against gun violence. They aim to bridge economic opportunity deficits by funding education, skills training programs, and paid work experiences. The funding for these grants is sourced from the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration, marking a significant investment in the nation's youth.

In parallel efforts to safeguard American interests, President Biden is proposing regulations to prevent data brokers from selling Americans' personal information to "countries of concern." An impending executive order will set guardrails against the transfer of bulk biometric, healthcare data, and financial information to foreign adversaries including China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea.

This executive order, which seeks to protect against the sale of sensitive data like genomic and geolocation information collected by tech companies, has been backed by Attorney General Merrick Garland. He stated that it would empower the Justice Department to block nations that threaten U.S. national security from harvesting Americans' sensitive personal data.

U.S. officials have raised alarms over the misuse of personal information by bad actors from nations like China and Russia, potentially enabling malicious cyber campaigns or attacks on dissidents and activists. The new regulations will be subject to a series of reviews with stakeholder input before implementation.

The White House announced these regulatory proposals on Wednesday, with the aim of preventing the exploitation of the lawful free flow of data by foreign ent*****. The regulations will set expectations for corporations and data brokers to prevent data transfers to actors of concern to U.S. national security. Enforcement measures will be taken against data brokers who violate the new rules by selling personal information to China and Russia.

Companies must now meet security requirements before engaging in vendor, employment, or investment agreements in China and Russia. The executive order is part of a broader effort to counter the use of U.S. technology and data in ways that could undermine national security. Concerns have been expressed over foreign adversaries accessing American technology and data through investments.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco indicated the potential risks of the Chinese government accessing data collected by companies operating in China. In response, the Disruptive Technology Strike Force was formed to prevent Western technology from falling into the hands of bad actors.

The executive order also aims to strengthen the relationship between national security and corporate governance concerning data protection. Despite these actions, the Biden administration acknowledges that the executive order is not a substitute for legislation that would provide permanent privacy protections. The initiatives underscore a strong commitment to addressing both the physical and digital safety of Americans, reflecting an administration adapting to the multifaceted nature of national security threats.

Conservative Bias:

Here we go again, folks, the Biden administration throwing good money after bad with a whopping $85 million in taxpayer dollars to supposedly 'combat youth gun violence.' Instead of addressing the real issue—lax moral values and a culture that glorifies violence—the left is attempting to bribe the problem away with job opportunities. It's a classic liberal move, avoiding the hard truth that it's their own policies eroding the family unit and respect for the law that have led us here. And what's this? An office of gun violence prevention? Another bureaucratic black hole to waste our hard-earned dollars. As for the executive order to prevent personal data from being sold—don't be fooled. It's just another ploy to control the tech industry and a feeble attempt to look tough on China and Russia, when in reality, Biden's weakness on the world stage is the real threat to our national security.

Liberal Bias:

In a decisive and commendable move, the Biden administration is taking a stand against the epidemic of gun violence that's stealing the futures of our youth. With $85 million in federal grants, they're addressing the root causes: systemic poverty and a lack of opportunity that conservatives conveniently ignore. It's about time we had leadership willing to invest in our communities rather than just pouring money into the endless pit of over-policing. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is also taking critical steps to safeguard our personal data from authoritarian regimes like China and Russia—threats that the previous administration cozied up to, putting corporate greed over national security. Finally, we have a president who understands that protecting American citizens means more than just empty rhetoric and building walls—it means building a society that works for everyone and defending our privacy from those who wish to do us harm.

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