[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7201-S7202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
committee on finance
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on Finance be permitted to meet Thursday, June 27, 1996
beginning at 10 a.m. in room SH-215, to conduct a markup on S. 1795.
[[Page S7202]]
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
committee on governmental affairs
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the
Governmental Affairs Committee to meet on Thursday, June 27 at 10 a.m.
for a hearing on ``Improving Management and Organization in Federal
Natural Resources and Environmental Functions.''
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
committee on the judiciary
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of
the Senate on Thursday, June 27, 1996, at 9:30 a.m., to hold an
executive business meeting.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
committee on the judiciary
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of
the Senate on Thursday, June 27, 1996, at 10 a.m. to hold a hearing on
``Church Burnings.''
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
subcommittee on housing opportunity and community development
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Subcommittee on Housing Opportunity and Community Development of the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet
during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 27, 1996, to conduct
a hearing on restructuring the Federal Housing Administration's Insured
and Assisted Multifamily Housing Portfolio.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
subcommittee on near eastern and south asian affairs
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs of the Committee
on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the
Senate on Wednesday, June 27, at 2 pm to hold hearing.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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CHURCH BURNINGS
Mr. KYL. Mr. President, the attacks on the churches, predominantly in
the Southeast, are far more than attacks on these institutions--they
are attacks on the very foundation of the United States. This country
was formed to protect people's religious liberty. Burning a place of
worship assaults this principle. The American people, who cherish
religious freedom, do not look kindly on the destruction of houses of
worship.
I think the American people are particularly concerned--I know I am--
that a disproportionate number of these attacks have occurred at
African-American churches. Of the 56 church burnings in the past 18
months, approximately 40 were predominantly African-American houses of
worship. Many of these institutions are more than places of prayer--
they are the center of the community.
According to the Justice Department, racial hatred is behind at least
some of the burnings. Authorities will need to continue to investigate
whether the fires prove to be part of a conspiracy or the work of
individual miscreants.
It is important to note that church burnings have occurred outside of
the Southeast, including in Arizona. This February, the 65-year-old
First Southern Baptist Church in Tucson was badly damaged by a fire
that is now under Federal investigation. The Pastor, Ron Hart, said
words with universal appeal: ``The First Southern Baptist Church did
not burn down--just the building. The church is scattered all over
Tucson. People are the church. We can rebuild.''
While it took too long for the church burnings to bother America's
conscience, now that the issue is in the open, there is action on many
fronts to put an end to the fires, capture those responsible, and help
rebuild destroyed institutions.
Federal and State law-enforcement agencies are working together to
solve these crimes against the people of America. Over 200 Federal law-
enforcement agents are on the case, and many more State and local
officials are investigating the fires.
A laudable example of Federal-State cooperation will soon occur in my
State of Arizona. Next week, in Phoenix, the FBI and the Phoenix Police
Department will host a forum on the church burnings with African-
American pastors.
In responding to the burnings, the Congress has acted in a most
appropriate bipartisan fashion to get to the bottom of these terrorist
incidents. Hearings have already been held in the House. And today the
Senate Judiciary Committee learned the latest on the criminal
investigation.
Senators Faircloth and Kennedy and Representatives Hyde and Conyers
have drafted church arson legislation that will soon reach the
President. Both chambers have passed it unanimously. The measure will
sharpen federal penalties for the burning of churches and enhance the
resources available to law enforcement to investigate and prevent such
acts of arson in the future.
Another key element of the legislation provides Federal loan
guarantees to help rebuild the razed churches. Senator Kennedy
describes this section as an ``important provision granting the
Department of Housing and Urban Development the authority to make loan
guarantees to lenders who provide loans to places of worship that have
been victimized by arson.'' This section is important for the comfort
it will provide to churches that lack the resources to rebuild,
assuming that it does not violate the wall of separation between church
and State.
Private efforts are at least equally impressive. Organizations both
religious and nonreligious have pledged millions in grants and loans to
help rebuild the churches.
The reaction of the religious community is particularly commendable
and welcome. During the civil rights struggle, the Reverend Martin
Luther King Jr. lamented the religious community's lack of support for
those engaged in efforts to end segregation and promote equality:
Called to be the moral guardian of the community, the
Church at times has preserved that which is immoral and
unethical. Called to combat social evils, it has remained
silent behind stained-glass windows.
I think Dr. King would be very happy to learn that America has grown,
and this indifference is no longer the case. Before the church burnings
received national attention, the Christian Coalition posted a $25,000
award for information leading to the conviction of any church arsonist,
and recently, the group announced a major fundraising drive to repair
and reconstruct the houses of worship. The Southern Baptist Convention,
at its annual meeting this month, passed a resolution condemning the
arsons, and initiated an offering to help rebuild the churches. Other
notable organizations have offered assistance, including the National
Council of Churches and the Anti-Defamation League.
I applaud all those who have undertaken these efforts. We must all
continue to work together as one people--the American people--to douse
the flames, punish those responsible, and rebuild what pernicious
bigotry and hatred have sought to destroy.
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