The Securing Our Streets (SOS) Act Revives Failed “Tough-on-Crime” Policies

President Donald Trump's State of the Union call to enact tougher punishments for “repeat violent offenders" won't make communities safer

Oakland, CA - March 4th, 2026 -  At Dream.Org, we believe public safety works best when it is rooted in evidence, fairness, and accountability. For years, we have partnered with leaders across different political divides and lived experiences to advance solutions that reduce crime and strengthen communities. Real public safety is built on data and people-first policies, not fear-based rhetoric.

During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Congress to enact tougher punishments for “repeat violent offenders.” That call has now materialized into legislation: the Securing Our Streets Act (SOS) Act, introduced by Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI-08) and Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07).

The SOS Act would dedicate billions of federal dollars to policies that:

• Expand mandatory minimum sentencing requirements
• Increase incarceration rates
• Limit judicial discretion
• Lock states into rigid, punitive frameworks that undermine local innovation

Decades of research show that one-size-fits-all mandatory sentencing policies do not make communities safer. Instead, they strain state budgets, overburden prisons, and disproportionately harm communities without addressing the root causes of crime.

Thank you to the members of the Dream.Org Empathy Network and partners across the country who have already signed our letter urging Congress to reject a return to failed “tough-on-crime” approaches.

We continue to urge Congress to reject the SOS Act and instead advance real solutions that reduce recidivism, support rehabilitation, and keep our communities safe.

You can sign our letter and tell Congress to vote NO on rebooting failed crime policies of the past here.

ABOUT DREAM.ORG

Dream.Org is the leading national nonprofit bringing people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom, dignity and opportunity for all. We use a common ground approach to find solutions for America’s toughest problems and make the American dream a reality for everyone. Learn more at dream.org.