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HR 9059 119th Congress · House

Grant Funding for Youth Police Athletic Programs

Advocate

Official title: To direct the Assistant Attorney General to award grants to the National Police Athletic/Activities League to improve academic and social outcomes for youth and reduce both juvenile crime and the risk that youth will become victims of crime by providing productive activities conducted by law enforcement personnel during non-school hours.

This bill would direct the Assistant Attorney General to award grants to the National Police Athletic/Activities League to support youth programs that improve academic and social outcomes and reduce juvenile crime and victimization. The grants would fund productive activities run by law enforcement personnel during non-school hours, such as after-school and other supervised programs. It is aimed at children and teenagers who may benefit from structured, adult-supervised activities when school is not in session. The measure centers on a federal grant program rather than a broad new entitlement or regulatory mandate.

  • Directs the Assistant Attorney General to award grants.
  • Funds the National Police Athletic/Activities League.
  • Targets youth outcomes during non-school hours.
  • Aims to reduce juvenile crime and youth victimization.
  • Uses law enforcement personnel to run productive activities.
Public Relevance 30 / 100
Niche Modest scope Broad

For the general public, this bill could expand after-school and non-school-hour programming for youth in communities that receive grants, especially through police-run athletic and activity leagues. If your area is served by one of these programs, the main concrete effect would be more federally supported supervised activities for children and teens, with the goal of reducing juvenile crime and victimization.

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FOR
  • Parents in high-crime neighborhoods They may see the grants as a way to keep children supervised and engaged during the hours when they are most likely to be exposed to crime or risky behavior. Structured activities can also provide mentoring and a safer place to go after school.
  • Law enforcement leaders They often argue that youth programs build trust with young people while preventing future crime. Supporting athletic and activity leagues can be a practical community-policing tool that complements enforcement with prevention.
  • Youth development advocates They may support the bill because it combines recreation, mentoring, and academic support in one setting. Programs like these can improve attendance, social skills, and connections to positive adults.
AGAINST
  • Fiscal conservatives They may object to creating a targeted federal grant stream for a single named organization, arguing that local governments and private charities should fund these activities themselves. They may also question whether the program is the best use of federal justice dollars.
  • Local youth-service providers Some may worry that directing funds through a police-affiliated league could crowd out independent community organizations that already serve the same children. They may prefer broader competitive grants open to a wider range of nonprofits and schools.
  • Civil-liberties advocates They may be uneasy about law enforcement personnel running youth activities, especially in communities with strained police-community relations. Their concern is that programs could blur the line between supportive outreach and surveillance.
  • “award grants to the National Police Athletic/Activities League”

    This means federal money would be steered to a specific national network rather than a broad pool of applicants. In practice, local affiliates connected to that league would be the main beneficiaries.

  • “improve academic and social outcomes for youth”

    The program is not just about recreation; it is intended to support school engagement, behavior, and social development. That could include tutoring, mentoring, and structured group activities.

  • “reduce both juvenile crime and the risk that youth will become victims of crime”

    The bill frames youth programs as a prevention strategy on both sides of public safety: keeping young people out of trouble and keeping them away from dangerous situations. The impact would depend on whether the activities reach the highest-risk youth.

  • “providing productive activities conducted by law enforcement personnel during non-school hours”

    The bill links the program to police-led or police-supported supervision outside school time. That can strengthen relationships with youth, but it also means the program’s success may depend on how communities view law enforcement involvement.

May 29, 2026

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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