H.R. 4103 — Break the Cycle of Violence Act

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to community-based nonprofit organizations (with a track record of activities in communities of color) or units of local government to support, enhance, and replicate coordinated community violence intervention initiatives focused on high-risk individuals. Grants must implement evidence-informed, trauma-responsive strategies that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration, expand economic opportunities, and promote agency coordination; local government grantees must distribute at least 75% of funds to community-based organizations, nonprofits, or non-law enforcement public safety agencies, while hospital grantees (as nonprofits) must distribute at least 90% to direct service providers (Thus, no more than 15% of title funding may go to local governments overall.). Applications must demonstrate violence reduction potential, community coordination, and—for local governments—support from a representative steering committee and leaders; the Secretary prioritizes proposals maximizing impact without incarceration, awards grants for four years based on scope and need, and covers 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, headed by a director, and delegates to the director responsibility for implementing this title. Of amounts made 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 the Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary and Office on implementing this title, including (1) developing grant solicitations, (2) raising awareness of those solicitations among eligible entities, (3) selecting grant proposals, (4) selecting grantees for supplemental funds under section 101(l), and (5) forming the National Community Violence Response Center under section 104. The Secretary must appoint members with expertise in implementing or evaluating community violence intervention initiatives—including a workforce development representative selected by the Secretary of Labor—ensure a commitment to culturally competent and trauma-informed approaches, and include substantial representation from communities of color disproportionately impacted by community violence.

This section establishes a National Community Violence Response Center to support grantees under the community violence intervention grant program (section 101). The Center's duties include (1) developing a four-tier taxonomy to assess grantee maturity and providing technical assistance and intensive site implementation support; (2) developing data collection policies measuring safety, community health, youth engagement, economic development, and recidivism, and assisting grantees with data systems; (3) establishing a Community Violence Research Advisory Council, with federal agency and Bureau of Labor Statistics representatives, to coordinate research, track expenditures, identify gaps, and report to Congress; (4) convening a biennial conference for grantees and stakeholders, followed by a public report to Congress within 90 days; (5) promoting capacity building, collaboration, best practices dissemination, and plans to expand support providers and evaluate innovations; and (6) submitting annual reports to Congress on violence trends, Center activities, and response recommendations.

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

This section authorizes additional appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out this title of $300 million for FY2026, $500 million for FY2027, and $700 million for each of FY2028 through FY2033.

This section establishes the Improving approaches for communities to thrive (IMPACT) grant program, under which the Secretary of Labor awards grants to eligible entities for year-round job training and workforce programs authorized under sec. 129(c)(1) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA; 29 U.S.C. 3164(c)(1))—with elements specified in sec. 129(c)(2)(C)—to connect opportunity youth in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence to in-demand occupations. Eligible entities are (1) community-based nonprofits serving local residents with a track record in communities of color, technical skills training for opportunity youth, and programs for basic skills deficient youth including 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 units of local government. Grantees must report on participant entry into training, education, apprenticeships, or work experiences and changes in school enrollment, unemployment, or weekly earnings; 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, read, write, or speak English to function on the job, in the family, or in society) and "in-demand occupation" (per WIOA sec. 3(23)(A)(ii)); and authorizes $1.5 billion for FY2026 through 2033, to remain available until expended through FY2033.