[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 187 Engrossed in House (EH)]


  2d Session

                            H. CON. RES. 187

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

    Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to recent church 
                               burnings.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 187

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas more than 30 African-American churches have been burned over the last 18 
        months;
Whereas arrests have been made in only 5 of the cases currently under 
        investigation;
Whereas the African-American community deserves the full support of Congress in 
        solving these cases in an expeditious manner and it is important for 
        Congress to speak out against the recent incidents of arson; and
Whereas several measures which would expedite the investigation into these 
        incidents and assist in the prosecution of individuals found guilty of 
        involvement in these incidents are now pending before Congress: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) attacks on places of worship because of the race, 
        color, denomination, or ethnicity of the congregation undermine 
        fundamental American ideals;
            (2) these fires appear to be hate crimes and also 
        implicitly interfere with the First Amendment rights and other 
        civil rights of the victims;
            (3) the arson of a place of worship is repulsive to us as a 
        society;
            (4) the Congress condemns, in the strongest possible terms, 
        these abhorrent actions against freely worshipping American 
        citizens and the African-American community in particular;
            (5) the Congress sends its sincere condolences to those 
        individuals who have been affected by these acts of cowardice;
            (6) the Congress fully supports the activities of local law 
        enforcement officials, the Department of Justice, and the 
        Department of the Treasury in investigating these incidents;
            (7) the Congress urges the United States Attorney General 
        and local prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty available 
        under law to punish the perpetrators of these craven acts;
            (8) it is important that Congress enact appropriate 
        legislation to ensure that Federal law enforcement has the 
        necessary tools to punish and deter these shameful, vile acts, 
        including the bipartisan legislation introduced by 
        Representatives Hyde and Conyers which would facilitate the 
        prosecution of persons responsible for these acts;
            (9) the President is urged to make the fullest possible use 
        of all available law enforcement resources to bring the 
        culprits in these crimes to justice;
            (10) Congress encourages the people of the United States to 
        work within their own communities to prevent arson against 
        African-American or any other house of worship; and
            (11) Congress encourages American citizens to observe a 
        national week of prayer beginning June 16, 1996, and ending 
        June 23, 1996, in their churches, synagogues, mosques, and 
        other places of worship for racial harmony, religious tolerance 
        and respect for the civil and human rights of all Americans.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.