[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6393-H6399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GENERAL LEAVE
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 187.
THe SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Connecticut, [Mrs. DeLauro].
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague, Mrs. Clayton,
on this resolution. I rise in strong support of the resolution.
I stand with my colleagues tonight to voice my outrage and
condemnation of these church arson. As towns and neighborhoods begin
that process of healing and rebuilding, it is imperative that we send a
loud and a clear and a firm message to the perpetrators of these sick
crimes that Americans will not tolerate bigotry or hate crimes.
{time} 2145
The perpetrators must and will be punished. History teaches us that
we all have a stake in the battle against the forces of hatred. We
cannot stand and be silent. We must speak louder than the voices of
hate. Those voices encourage violence and have resulted in the
destruction of churches, churches built on faith, on hope, and on love.
I am proud to join my colleagues today in support of this resolution
and urge its adoption. Further, I urge my colleagues to call on others
to go to their districts, to speak out against the voices and the
actions of hatred in this country. It is only through such acts that we
can prevent further violence and destruction.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Maine [Mr. Longley].
Mr. LONGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the gentleman from
Oklahoma and the gentlewoman from North Carolina for bringing this
resolution to the floor. As a Representative from the State of Maine, I
want to add my voice to the national chorus that denounces these
instances of religious and racial hatred. I ask unanimous support for
this resolution that we offer tonight.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett].
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I commend and thank the gentlewoman from
North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] and all of those who have joined with her
for her leadership in expressing our collective outrage at what has
been occurring in communities across this country. Now is the time for
people of good will regardless of religion or their political
persuasion or their region of the country to join together to condemn
the outrage that has occurred and the attempt at intimidation steeped
in hate on which it is based.
It is not enough merely to condemn. For while we are all outraged by
what has occurred, we know that simply expressing our fury through
resolution is only a first step. It is time to match our actions with
our words and resolutions. So it is extremely important that the Church
Arsons Prevention Act introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from
Michigan [Mr. Conyers], that would strengthen our ability to fight this
kind of arson, be enacted at the earliest possible date in this
Congress.
We should move forward on this legislation to halt attacks on our
communities. Our communities are suffering, and they should look to our
national leaders with confidence, for we have the responsibility to
prove, as Barbara Jordan would say, that America is as good as its
promise. In keeping this promise, we can be inspired by the
congregations who refuse to be intimidated.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Lightfoot].
(Mr. LIGHTFOOT asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. LIGHTFOOT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues here and rise in
strong support of this resolution. Since we have a limited amount of
time, I would like to briefly comment on one aspect of this resolution,
and that is Congress' full support of Federal, State and local law
enforcement investigations.
[[Page H6394]]
We are going to do more than offer just words. As chairman of the
subcommittee in charge of ATF's appropriation, I will be introducing
supplemental legislation next week as part of the fiscal year 1997
Treasury appropriations bill to provide $12 million in additional
resources right here and right now. In addition, we will continue our
commitment to solving these church fires with an additional $12 million
for fiscal year 1997, a total of $24 million. If that does not do it,
we will come back for some more.
This money will go toward the basics of law enforcement, overtime,
travel offices, phones, rewards, money, and equipment. This will allow
the establishment of full-blown church fire task forces, not just the
high level discussions that the administration has been hosting but
real offices in the States where these churches are being burned,
agents answering calls and gathering evidence.
I have every confidence that we will be able to solve these crimes.
ATF investigators have a world class reputation in arson investigation.
They have been called in on challenging cases all around the world.
They solved the World Trade Center bombing. They found the evidence
that led to the arrest of the people who perpetrated the bombing in
Oklahoma City. They unraveled the pipe bombings and mail bombings in
the Southeastern United States of the judges several years ago.
Interestingly enough, Louis Freeh, who is now head of the FBI, was a
prosecutor. They brought them to trial. If we look back at 1992, when
we had a series of church bombings, all but one of those crimes has
been solved.
So I would say tonight to whoever is the perpetrator of these crimes,
whatever their motives might be, because they have to be less than
human, we are setting on your trail. If you are watching out there
tonight, the world's premier arson investigators, they are going to
find you. They are going to collect the evidence. They are going to
collect it correctly and they are going to take you to jail. Then
hopefully through the trial process you will prosecuted and punished to
the full extent of the law.
I think that is one thing that we can do. I think it is an obligation
that we have to everyone in this country. It does not make any
difference whether we are black or white or brown or whatever the color
of our skin, Republicans, Democrats or not, when you start to attack
anyone's house of worship, that is an attack on God. I think all of us
rise up as brothers and sisters and revile that kind of activity. I
think we have an obligation and a duty to find that these people are
found, prosecuted adequately punished. We make that commitment here
tonight to do that.
I compliment my two friends for offering this resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jones). The Chair reminds Members to
please address their remarks to the Chair.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis].
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman
from North Carolina and the gentleman from Oklahoma for bringing this
resolution before us.
The church has long been the heartbeat, they very soul of the black
community. In the 1960's, those who opposed the civil rights movement
recognized that strength. Our churches were burned. looted and burned.
Our holy places were no longer a place of sanctuary but a target of
those who preached hate, division and intolerance. Today, despite the
progress we made as a Nation and as a people, history is repeating
itself. In the ashes, of these churches are the hopes and dreams of the
African-American community, justice, equality and simple acceptance.
The fires that destroyed these churches are fueled not only by gasoline
and matches but also by hated and intolerance and bigotry. There is a
conspiracy, a conspiracy of intolerance.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues tonight to vote for this
resolution and send a strong message to this Nation that we will build
a sense of community. Let us use this occasion, let us use this
resolution not to divide but to bring together. Bring us all together,
not to tear down but to uplift. Let us speak tonight with one mighty
voice. We must use our outrage to rededicate ourselves to building Dr.
King's beloved community, a Nation in which we all are judged not by
the color of our skin but by the content of our character.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Hayworth].
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I would commend my colleagues from North
Carolina and from Oklahoma for drafting and presenting this resolution
this evening.
Mr. Speaker, what type of person, what type of twisted, sick mind
would choose to launch an attack on a house of worship, no matter its
denomination, no matter the people who choose to worship there?
Tonight, as my colleague from Georgia who preceded me in the well
noted, it is time to come together. We often have spirited and
contentious debate in this Chamber. Indeed, we champion that right to
freely express differences of opinion honestly held. But tonight, Mr.
Speaker, the call for all Americans should be, let us unite against
those who would seek to deprive us of our most fundamental freedom, the
freedom to worship individually or corporately according to the
dictates of our own conscience.
Questions of motives, indeed veiled references, if you will, to one
political philosophy or another really have no place in this debate.
Indeed, even as we could attack or isolate one form of communication,
we could also point to the growing secularization of America and
hostility toward churches and people of faith.
Let us come together, Mr. Speaker, tonight, resolute in the knowledge
that all these actions taken against any house of worship are blatantly
wrong, and this Congress will work to stop it.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Hilliard].
Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to
congratulate the gentlewoman from North Carolina for organizing this.
It is very important.
I also would like to thank everyone who has been involved. I
certainly hope that we will all vote in favor of the resolution so that
we will have an opportunity to support the bill if it comes forth.
I would like to use just one-half of my minute to say that I had a
very sad meeting on Monday of this week. I spoke to four ministers;
each one of their churches had been set ablaze. There have been nine
burnings in my district, more than any other congressional district.
But one of the things that must be said here, not one of those
ministers was satisfied with the efforts of the FBI and the ATF. In
fact, it is a fact that the FBI and the ATF had mixed a voter fraud
case with the church fire investigations causing conflict and
intimidating members of those congregations. If they are sincere, if
they wish to pursue the evidence on the fire, the fires that have been
set, they must separate those cases.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stockman].
Mr. STOCKMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment a little bit about
this resolution. It is quite personal because in my district, they
burned down a church, a little church on Galveston Island. Pastor Booth
to this day has not been able to rebuilds that church. He did not get
much recognition, and he did not get much talked about because it was
not fashionable at that point to talk about burning churches. But that
church is still struggling to recoup from that terrible burning.
Right now Pastor Booth has got the foundation laid, and he is trying
to put up the sides of the church. They burnt that church down, that
beautiful town of Galveston where the breezes come across and you see
the sandy beaches and everything. But right there in that town in which
you would think that there would be no hatred, there was hatred. They
burnt down the church. For what reason? I do not know. But I ask
Members that the people of America as they are watching this debate to
pray and hold out their heart towards their saviour and their Christ
that they may put an end to this burning, because this is not something
that our country
[[Page H6395]]
should have or should even have to be discussing.
{time} 2200
In fact, if anything, it is disgusting that we have to talk about
this, and I tell my colleagues as a member of First Bethel Church of
Houston, I have a deep, abiding faith, and I believe that out of this
there will be good that will come of it because I believe the American
people, whether Democrat or Republican, they are honest and courageous
and have basic faith in principles, in American principles which unite
us in this tragedy, and once again I would like to offer up a prayer to
Pastor Booth as he rebuilds his church down there in Galveston.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee].
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, just a few short months ago I
visited Bosnia, and Sarajevo as the city was one that stuck in my mind,
stuck in my mind because in viewing that city what I saw most of all
and what the people wanted to show me was the devastation and the
destruction of their houses of worship. But one difference is: They
were at war. It is tragic to now come home to America and see across
this Nation symbols of war, people attacking churches, African-American
churches, churches on the basis of hatred and dislike for someone else.
But, thank God, I recognize that churches are not just wood and
stone, that we must give back the right of the people to worship in a
constitutionally free society.
So it is important that I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina
for her leadership, for bringing us together, along with the gentleman
from Oklahoma, that although we can rise and begin to articulate all of
the efforts that we are making, and I applaud those efforts, that we
must do more, and that must be to call for a week of prayer that will
allow us to insure that we do bring America together from June 16 to
June 23. And I thank the gentlewoman and gentleman for allowing this
language to go in:
A national week of prayer that we may bond together to tell
Americans who may think to do these dastardly acts that we
will stand up against it and provide a safe and free place
for all of America to be free in their houses of worship.
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Weller].
(Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend my friend from Oklahoma
and my friend from North Carolina for their leadership and their
bipartisanship, the bipartisan spirit of this so very important
resolution.
This past Sunday I joined with a multidenominational organization
called Jacob in one of the largest cities in my district, the city of
Joliette, and Jacob is an organization representing the churches, black
and white, Hispanic, Mexican, multidenominational. We all joined
together, and we marched across the city of Joliette. Republican
elected officials were part of the march, Democrat elected officials
were part of the march, church leaders were part of the march, and
church members were part of the march. And this march, frankly, was a
response to an outrage that occurred locally in the community of
Joliette, IL, and that was where a newly established church which had
located on the west side of Joliette, a newly established church which
was majority African-American, had been vandalized.
Mr. Speaker, we made very clear in our statement that there is no
room for racism, there is no room for bigotry, there is no room for
anti-Semitism in our community.
That is the spirit of this resolution, and I ask for unanimous
support.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Illinois [Mrs. Collins].
(Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me, too, add my
appreciation to the gentleman from Oklahoma and to the gentlewoman from
North Carolina for bringing this issue up at this time, and I rise to
speak of the shameful desecration of our Nation's African-American
churches.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, these fires are burning our
sacred edifices and fanning the flames of racial intolerance, but they
are also burning the U.S. Constitution. All of us have a right to
freely worship, something on which our very Constitution was built, and
my colleagues know I am glad my colleague from Illinois happened to
have mentioned that church burnings and desecration and vandalism are
not just happening in the South, they are happening all across this
land. As he pointed out so eloquently, right outside of Chicago, IL,
there have been churches, one newly purchased by an African-American
Baptist group, that had the side of its walls spray painted with the n
word twice already, twice already in less time than a month.
It just seems to me that we ought to be very careful about these
kinds of things because my colleagues know they hurt.
When I go to church on Sundays and put on my choir robe and sing
praise to my God, I want to feel that my church is going to be there
the next time I want to go there and worship. I certainly hope that
will be the case in the future.
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Browder].
Mr. BROWDER. Mr. Speaker, I commend our friend from North Carolina
and our friend from Oklahoma for bringing this resolution to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, about a month ago I had the opportunity to visit that
church on 16th in Birmingham, AL, where several young women lost their
lives. It is a beautiful place, and my colleagues would not know the
horror unless they open a closet or look in the basement and see the
cracked foundations.
We are here tonight, the good people of Alabama and all across this
country to say no, no, we will not go back to those days and we will
not put up with anybody burning our churches.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Michigan [Ms. Rivers].
Ms. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution and in
the condemnation of the tidal wave of racism and hatred that is
threating America's African-American churches.
I was a child in the 1960's, and in front of our family's big
television set I watched in wide-eyed silence as fire hoses were turned
on young black men asking only to be treated as real citizens, as
vicious dogs attacked African-American women and their children, as
little African-American girls, barely older than I was at the time,
were killed in a cowardly attack on the church where they worshipped.
Today I am no longer a child, and I will no longer watch in silence
as the African-American community suffers under the last of bigotry.
Today I join the chorus of voices from all across this country, people
of conscience, people from all regions, and all religions, all races,
who are speaking out against the cowardly forces of hate and for a
nation where all are valued and protected.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Gibbons], the ranking member of the
Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I commend the sponsors of this resolution,
and I condemn the perpetrators of the crime of burning churches and
promoting disharmony in our country. But, Mr. Speaker, some good is
going to flow from all of this, as perverse as that might be. America
will have better arson laws than we have now. America will have better
law enforcement in the field of arson than we have now. And if the
perpetrators of these crimes are trying to drive the races apart, they
have made a terrible mistake because whites and blacks will join
together in greater unity in this adversity.
There can be no more cowardly and, I think, ineffective crime than
burning churches. The history of mankind is that you can never succeed
in persecuting anybody based upon their belief.
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I do not know what the motives of these people are, but they are
bound to fail, and I believe that failure will bring America closer
together.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek]
(Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and
extend her remarks.)
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all I want the Congress
and the world to know that we are grateful to the gentlewoman from
North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] and the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr.
Watts], a sister and brother of mine who have brought this resolution
in front of the Congress.
The church burnings are despicable acts, and they are very outrageous
as well, perpetrated by these people who crawl on their bellies in our
society. It is a very small segment of our society representing these
burnings.
I also want to commend the President of the United States, who went
to lend his sympathy to the people who were churchgoers from these
churches.
We need leadership at all levels, I think, both the Republicans and
the Democrats in the Congress, because the churches of this country,
they do not lean on parties, they lean on God, and it so important that
we solve it in this resolution.
We cannot say with all confidence that these burnings will stop. We
hope that they will. I think the people who have come out with fresh
and adventuresome initiatives want to be sure that these things do not
happen again. But we cannot say with all confidence because we know
prior history shows us that it is not beyond them.
Peter, one of Christ's disciples, said: ``Upon this rock I build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.''
Let us pass this resolution.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer].
(Mr. SAWYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our colleagues and join with
all who have expressed the gratitude of Members of this body to the
gentlewoman from North Carolina and the gentleman from Oklahoma for
their initiative in bringing this before us and to join with so many
others this evening in sharing our dismay at the events that have
spread across this Nation in recent weeks.
I particularly want to thank those congregations that have opened
their doors to those who have lost for now their places of worship and
to call upon congregations everywhere across this country this weekend
and in coming weeks to join together in sharing their diverse
traditions of worship with other congregations in their community
symbolically to join together with those who share these podiums
tonight and to let the word go forth from every pulpit and pew in this
Nation, with voices joined together, to say that there is a message
that binds us altogether:
That in the United States of America there is no tolerance of
intimidation and no license for hatred.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Washington [Mr. McDermott].
(Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleagues for
bringing this resolution. The gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer] and I
were in the car starting home, and he said to me, ``Should we go and
say something?'' And I said yes, because I thought of Dietrich
Bonhoffer, who was a Lutheran minister in Nazi Germany, who, when they
came, he said:
When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak up;
when they came for the Catholics, I did not speak up; when
they came for the Jews, I did not speak up. When they came
for me, there was nobody left.
If we do not speak up for each other, none of us are free in this
country.
{time} 2215
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Bishop].
Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in an America where young people
were taught the love of God and country, values and character and
integrity, to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous,
kind, obedient, and reverent; an America where hats were removed when a
funeral procession came down the street and all movement ceased; where
a church ground was sacred and where the sanctuary was treated with
reverence. My, how America has changed.
Almost 2,000 years ago Jesus said, upon this rock I will build my
church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Well, I am
happy to say that that was true then and it is true now.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to join with my colleagues on both sides of
the aisle here tonight to join in one voice, the voice of brotherhood,
to say that in this House, in this country, people of goodwill all
across this Nation are expressing today and tonight their outrage at
what has happened, but more importantly, we are exerting our prayers
all across this Nation for those poor souls who are responsible for
this dastardly conduct.
I support my colleagues and this resolution, and God bless America.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the
great State of Oregon [Mr. Blumenauer] a new Member of Congress.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened that my first appearance
before this body is on the occasion of such a hateful event. I think we
all had hoped that this was behind us. But I am heartened by the
attitude and tone of love and reconciliation that one hears this
evening.
I find I must join with the words of my colleague from Georgia. We
pray that we are aware of this terror as we go about our business,
remembering the power of words and the power of reconciliation, because
I think if we remember this somber, yet hopeful moment, as we go about
the rest of our business on behalf of the people, that this hateful act
of racial intolerance and bigotry will help us do our job better for
the American people.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox].
Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her
leadership and that of the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for
their help and leadership on this very important presentation tonight,
and I think the American people have come together in total horror
about the recent church burnings. We are taking action here tonight to
show the outrage of Congress that this has occurred and to take
positive action.
This afternoon there was a presentation by our colleagues, in working
with the insurance companies to make sure that we assist these churches
with fire prevention programs and work with our fire caucus in making
sure that this does not occur, and legislation that is going to
increase the penalty for arson, and most of us, to bring about the
inspirational setting of Republicans and Democrats working together,
the African-American community and the white community and the Hispanic
community in all parts of this country working together, brothers and
sisters, to make sure that this kind of bigotry and hatred is ended. I
thank again both of these Congress people for bringing this issue
forward and to make sure that we take positive action.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Wyoming [Mrs. Cubin].
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman for
yielding this time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here this evening to speak on this
issue. I think that every time that there is a problem in our country,
we pull together as Americans. We have won two world wars, we have put
a man on the Moon. We have the best health care system in the world.
When we need a neighbor, when we need a friend, Americans are always
there to pull together to help one another. I am grateful that we have
the opportunity to speak on this issue tonight. We will not accept, in
no way, this sort of behavior. I think we should use every effort and
every resource we have to try to find the people that are responsible
for this and bring them to justice.
Every cloud has a silver lining, and the conciliatory tone of this
Congress this evening is heartwarming, and I
[[Page H6397]]
hope the people across the country can feel the sentiment that we feel
here this evening.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Florida [Ms. Brown].
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, freedom if religion and freedom of
speech are the two most precious rights in our American society.
Implicit in our freedom to worship the God of our choice is the freedom
to worship without fear. It is a very sad day when the right to worship
without fear has been jeopardized by the unconscionable torching of
houses of worship.
I am pleased to join my colleagues in strongly supporting H.R. 3525.
However, as much as we try through legislation to stop the fires, the
most important change must come in the hearts of those who hate. I just
have a message for those out there: Remember what you plant will come
back to you. I do believe that there is a God, and you are creating a
fire here, but know that there is going to be a great day, and that
fire will burn eternal.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the recent rash of burnings of African-American churches
has cut a swath of destruction across this Nation and has called into
question America's will to resist racism.
The President has responded swiftly, outlining a four point plan of
action and today, in a strong demonstration of will, travelling to
South Carolina, one of the burning sites.
It is now time for Congress to stand up. It is now time for Congress
to speak out. It is now time for Congress to act.
One of the most important things Congress can do is to let our voices
be heard. Sometimes silence is viewed as acceptance.
Sometimes no position is regarded as a position.
Sometimes failure to act is tantamount to acting.
Indeed, many believe that the growing divisions and racial strife in
America today is due, at least in some part, to the divisions and
strife that have been evident among this Nation's leaders.
But, despite our differences on politics and policy and party and
despite the fact that we have had deep disagreements during our
deliberations and debate, I believe this Congress and my colleagues
will stand together to resist racism.
The fact that those who have done these wicked deeds have chosen to
do them to houses of worship--the very places we hold most dear and
most precious, leaves no doubt in my mind that good will come from this
evil.
Our churches, our synagogues, and our mosques have always been places
of peace and sanctuary, a welcome retreat and shelter from the problems
and difficulties outside.
But, for the past 6 years, African-American churches have been
targets for arson, places of anguish, unsuspecting victims of a pattern
and practice of violence.
Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick has referred to these acts
as an ``Epidemic of Terror.''
And, while there is no evidence of conspiracy, it is strangely
coincidental that more than 50 African-American churches have been
burned during the 1990's, with 32 of those burnings occurring in 1995
alone.
On average, Mr. Speaker, two African-American church fires have taken
place each month, over the past 18 months. Since late Friday, four
churches have been victims of suspicious fires.
If this is not an ``Epidemic of Terror,'' it is certainly a situation
that is far too extensive to be ignored.
Prior to today's church burning in Oklahoma most of these fires have
been concentrated in nine Southern States, including Alabama,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The investigation of the fires has been difficult.
Nearly all of them have taken place in rural and remote areas, during
late night or early morning hours.
There have been few if any witnesses, and the fires have generally
not been discovered until the churches have burned to the ground,
leaving little evidence for law enforcement.
The President's response has been strong and forceful.
He has outlined a four step plan that has been put in place in
response to these acts.
The private sector has also stepped forward.
For example, NationsBank in my State of North Carolina has offered a
half million dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the person or persons responsible for the recent church
fire in Charlotte.
It is now time for the Congress to step forward.
It is time now for Congress to be heard. First, we should all support
the bipartisan legislation introduced by our colleagues, Mr. Conyers
and Mr. Hyde.
That legislation would make it easier to bring prosecutions and
stiffen the penalties against those who target houses of worship.
I would urge support for House Concurrent Resolution 188, a
resolution I have introduced that now has more than 100 bipartisan
cosponsors, expressing the collective outrage of Congress and
denouncing these acts of arson.
We condemn the burnings, pledge to assist law enforcement, support
the Conyers and Hyde legislation and appeal for broad community
preventive action.
And, finally we should all, work within our respective communities to
help prevent future arson.
These acts of hate that have wounded our souls have inspired acts of
love that have renewed our faith.
Across the country, volunteers have stepped forward to help rebuild
the burned churches.
I was especially moved by the story of Rev. Terrence Mackey, who
awakened one morning to a spot in a field where this church had stood
and said to his daughter ``They didn't burn down the church. They
burned down the building in which we hold the church. The church is
still inside all of us.''
Fittingly, on June 15, Reverend Mackey, his daughter, the
congregation and friends will undertake a symbolic march from the
scorched earth site of the old church in Greeleyville, SC, to the
pristine site of their new church.
House Concurrent Resolution 188 also recognizes June 15 as a day when
all members can join with Reverend Mackey, his daughter, his
congregation and others, in whatever gesture is deemed appropriate, to
say to those who would promote evil, that you have burned our churches,
but you can not burn our spirit.
Mr. Speaker, There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. With
these burnings, this is a time to speak.
I urge every Member to speak out against these church burnings in
their communities. And, I urge every citizen to resist this racism.
These acts do not represent America, and we must demonstrate to the
world the true spirit of our great Nation.
{time} 2230
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, I came here this evening with the gentlewoman from North
Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] and the rest of my colleagues on both sides of
the aisle to introduce a House concurrent resolution addressing a
serious crime called arson, and more specifically the recent horrifying
crime of arson used to destroy more than 30 black churches around the
country, over the last 16 or 18 months, including a church that burned
last night in my home State of Oklahoma, where arson activity is
suspected. My sympathies and condolences go out to those affected by
these senseless and tragic deeds.
In Eufaula, OK, where I grew up, our church was the heart and soul of
our small community. It was a symbol of hope and faith, of pride and
serenity. The church is where we would all gather to rejoice in
celebration and pray in times of sorrow. It was the cornerstone of our
community and it is a special place that holds some of my dearest
memories.
This atmosphere is not unique to me. American should be a country of
faith and community. There are thousands of cities who see their church
as the fabric of strength in their community. It is inconceivable to me
that anyone would try to destroy this very fabric that provides the
identity and life for a
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community simply out of hate and ignorance.
By setting churches on fire, not only are these vandals attempting to
destroy the house of a community, they are destroying the house of God.
This is one of the most horrific crimes a person can commit.
As a man who has been brought up with faith in God and faith in
justice, I call upon our judicial system to take action against these
terrible violations of liberty. We cannot sit idle and tolerate these
acts of hate. We cannot watch these criminals continue to torch any
more sanctuaries of faith.
It is my hope that the proper authorities--the Justice Department,
the Attorney General, and State and local officials--will move swiftly
to investigate and stop these vicious crimes. I think Martin Luther
King, Jr.'s words still hold true today when he said, ``A threat to
justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' These burnings
are a serious threat to justice and will lead to more perilous
consequences if justice is not served. This country has worked too hard
to heal the wounds of racial divide to allow ignorant individuals to
once again divide us in our communities.
There is no excuse for the lack of commitment dedicated to serving
justice and finding the individuals responsible for these arson
activities. I commend groups like the Christian Coalition for efforts
to help find the culprits, and I challenge other organizations,
citizens as well as elected officials to help fight this battle.
Fire spreads fast and furious, and once it is out of control, we may
not possess the means to contain if. It we do not insist that justice
is served, the fire of hate and ignorance will continue to burn and
spread, reducing all we have strived for to ashes of despair.
We need to extinguish these fires and reignite the fires of faith.
These affected communities are not letting the fires burn down the
foundation and fabric of their community. They will rebuild and show an
unwavering strength of faith. The victims of these church burnings are
not letting the vandals win, and we cannot allow them to win either. It
is our obligation to do all that we can to see that justice is served
and that the people responsible for these crimes are caught and
punished.
Beginning with the times back in Eufaula, OK, and even more as a
minister, when I have needed strength and guidance, I have turned to my
church and to my God. I cannot imagine not having a church to turn to.
These burnings represent more than arson activity. The burnings
represent a violation of basic rights and basic freedoms. I have always
enjoyed the freedom to practice my religion in a place I feel safe.
That is a right the Constitution provides to me. It is my hope that we
will not deny that right to anyone, and that justice will suffocate the
fires of hate and continue to kindle the torch of liberty, as we
provide justice for all.
Mr. ROEMER, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of House
Concurrent Resolution 187, a measure to condemn the sinister and
hateful arson plaguing African-American churches in our Nation. This is
a national shame that such activity could continue in this day and age,
and deserves a national and immediate response.
That someone, anyone, could attack a House of God is unforgivable.
Our churches, our synagogues, our temples, are not just houses of
worship, but symbols of our commitment to understanding and tolerance.
Understanding of our mission in this great Nation under God, and our
tolerance of our wonderful diversity. These attacks on our present
truly mar our past, where in recent times we have worked so hard to
grow in acceptance and understanding. In so many ways, we have all come
to know and understand and appreciate one another. Of course, we have a
long way to go.
But we should not--and will not--tolerate the hateful acts of those
who would pull us backward, destroy our hard-won progress, and elevate
their own base and evil feelings into an otherwise enlightened
progress. Yes, we have far to go, but we will never go back.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a start. It is a step on the path to
healing. But it also lays upon us a commitment. This commitment is to
realize that the fight against racism, against bigotry, against hatred,
is still very much needed and very much ours, because the world is far
from perfect. When even our houses of worship are targets of those who
would oppose peace and fairness in society, then we must truly be on
our guard, physically and spiritually.
We can surely fight these heinous acts with the full weight of the
law, and we surely should. But we must also fight them with the spirit,
knowing that the love of God unites us all. And even as we celebrate
the blessings that God gives us in this great Nation, we must always be
diligent in fighting those who would rob us of those gifts.
Mr. Speaker, the evils of those whose hatred has conquered their
spirit must not be allowed to conquer our spirit, and may this
resolution be a beginning in our demonstration that love and
brotherhood will conquer all. In the end, justice must and will reign,
and those that tear down the House of God, no matter what the color of
the person that worships within, will find that mercy will drown their
hatred.
Mr. Franks of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I and a great number of my
colleagues are understandably alarmed by the rash of intentionally-set
church fires--many of those of African-American congregations--which
have been occurring in the United States, particularly in the
Southeast.
We have seen the lamentable pictures and images on the television
news, Mr. Speaker. The parishioners wandering about the charred ruins
of what used to be their church. Reverends and deacons wondering aloud
where their flock will go to worship and how they will cope. Church
patrons left wondering what short of twisted individual could commit
the heinous crime of burning down a house of worship.
We must take a good look at these sobering facts by this epidemic of
hate. According to a recently-sent Dear Colleague by two of our most-
distinguished Members, Henry Hyde and John Conyers, since October of
1991, there has been 110 incidents of church arson that have been
reported to Federal authorities with thirty-three of these arsons
committed this year. Messrs. Hyde and Conyers also inform us that since
the beginning of 1995, of the 51 church arsons committed, more than
half of them involved African-American congregations.
Meanwhile, officials from the Department of Justice have stated in
testimony that our current laws do not give our Federal law enforcement
officials the needed tools to prosecute and punish those sick, evil
individuals who desecrate or burn our places of worship. Mr. Speaker,
we need to amend our laws so we can incarcerate those who perpetuate
bigotry and hatred for the good and well-being of society.
Accordingly, I encourage my colleagues to join me in rising in strong
support of H.R. 3525, the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, which
has been offered by Congressman Hyde and Congressman Conyers.
H.R. 3525, of which I am a cosponsor, will make important changes to
the laws which are present on the books so that we may send more of
these fire-toting hatemongers to jail.
This bill, as noted in Messrs. Hyde and Conyers' Dear Colleague,
would broaden the scope of the statute which makes it a crime to damage
religious property or to obstruct a person in the free exercise of
religious beliefs by applying criminal penalties if the offense `is in
or affects interstate or foreign commerce.' According to Congressman
Hyde and Congressman Conyers, H.R. 3525 will thus provide the amendment
to our Federal statutes that will grant Federal jurisdiction, and thus
will augment the Attorney General's ability to prosecute these arson
cases.
Also, this bill will reduce the current dollar value of destruction
which must occur before these crimes of desecration may be prosecuted.
At the present time, our laws state that the loss from the destruction
of property must be more than $10,000. However, H.R. 3525 will reduce
the dollar threshold to $5,000. As Congressman Hyde and Congressman
Conyers rightly point out, by reducing this threshold to a lower dollar
number on destruction, it will make it easier for the Federal
Government to prosecute more of these arson cases.
Mr. Speaker, this House should put its foot firmly down on those who
would espouse terror and religious bigotry. To help do that, H.R. 3525
should be wholeheartedly supported by every Member of this Congress.
Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution to condemn the horrific outbreak of church fires in the
South.
There is little doubt that those who are responsible for these
church-burnings are trying to send this Nation a message, one that we
had hoped faded away years ago, but which is still very much with us.
It is a message of hate and exclusion, and it is a message of bigotry
and intolerance.
Like many of my constituents, I have struggled over recent months to
understand the thought process that would lead someone to set fire to a
church. Few structures symbolize security and peace in a frightening
world better than a place of worship. By destroying these buildings in
such a violent and ruthless way, the perpetrators of these crimes are
telling millions of Americans that they should not
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feel at peace in their communities, that they are not secure.
At times like this, we can find some comfort in the fact that no
amount of violence can destroy the progress we have made toward
becoming a more tolerant society. Everyday, in communities across the
country, men and women young and old are teaching the lessons of peace,
love, and faith so central to American life. But even as we take
comfort, we cannot become so comfortable that we do nothing. For if we
do nothing, we are accepting bigotry as part of our social landscape--
and we will never accept that.
Cowardly actions demand powerful responses. The President began today
by saying, ``They know not what they do.'' Some may not know, but the
perpetrators of these acts know exactly what they do--and it cannot be
tolerated.
When those who burn churches send their message of hate, good people
across this Nation need to rally together. When bigots tell millions of
Americans that they are less than equal, then we must tell the bigots
that we are all brothers and sisters. And when arsonists slink in the
dark of night trying to undermine our community, we must stand up in
the light of day and proclaim that our community is far too strong to
be damaged by their actions.
Those who burn churches want to mark the Earth with the ashes and
rubble of their intolerance. Instead, let us rebuild these churches as
a living memorial, made of stone and brick, to our commitment to human
rights and human dignity.
By passing this resolution, we let the purveyors of hate know that
the good people of this Nation will drown out the message of hate
wherever it appears.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jones). All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is
ordered.
The question is on the concurrent resolution.
The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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