[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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