[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 99 (Monday, July 8, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  CHURCH ARSON PREVENTION ACT OF 1996

 Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to comment on the 
Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 which passed this body on June 26, 
1996. I applaud the efforts of my colleagues, Senators Faircloth and 
Kennedy, in proposing a quick course of action which will take us one 
step closer to putting an end to these terrible acts on our Nation's 
places of worship.
  Mr. President, since January 1995, there have been 75 fires in 
churches nationwide. Thirty-six fires have occurred in predominantly 
African-American churches in the Southeast United States. Over the past 
year and a half, there have been several church burnings in my home 
State of Tennessee, a total of six this year alone. Some of these fires 
may turn out to be accidents but others were clearly set intentionally. 
It is my belief that the individuals who set these fires must be 
prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent possible.
  The people of Tennessee have joined together to help heal the deep 
wounds from the loss of these local churches. Like the people of 
Tennessee, the people of America demanded that we pass this 
legislation. H.R. 3525 demonstrates America's commitment to protecting 
houses of worship across philosophical and geographical boundaries, but 
more important, it demonstrates that we are united in this effort.
  Mr. President, I truly believe that the local authorities are the 
best resource to investigate and solve these types of crimes. This bill 
does not undermine, or in any way suggest, that the local authorities 
are not capable of solving these crimes. Rather, the bill helps to deal 
with special difficulties involved when criminals move from State to 
State and where Federal assistance and a Federal statute is needed to 
adequately resolve the problem.
  This bipartisan bill is a tremendous resource to help to rebuild the 
churches and help law enforcement officials investigate and prosecute 
those responsible. It has four main components. First, it amends the 
Federal Criminal Code to make it easier to prosecute cases of 
destruction of religious property. Currently, in cases of destruction 
of religious property, there is a requirement that the damage exceed 
$10,000. Moreover, there is a stringent interstate commerce 
requirement. This bill eliminates the monetary requirement and replaces 
the interstate commerce requirement with a more sensible scheme that 
will expand the scope of a prosecutor's ability to prosecute church 
arsons and other acts of religious desecration.
  The bill also conforms the penalty for church arson and the statute 
of limitations to that of the Federal arson statute, thus raising the 
maximum potential penalty for church arson from 10 to 20 years and the 
statute of limitations from 5 to 7 years.
  The bill also gives HUD authority to use up to $5 million from an 
existing and already appropriated fund to extend loan guarantees to 
financial institutions who make loans to 501(c)(3) organizations that 
have been damaged as a result of terrorism or arson.
  Mr. President, I applaud the efforts of private corporations and 
local charitable organizations in their efforts to provide the vital 
funds necessary to help rebuild many of these churches. I would urge 
that the people of this great country continue to dig deep into their 
own pockets, and continue playing a critical role in helping their 
neighbors to rebuild their local church.
  In order to help State and local authorities investigate the crimes, 
H.R. 3525 authorizes funding for the Treasury and the Justice 
Department to help train local law enforcement officials investigating 
church arson.
  Mr. President, growing up and raising my family in the South, I 
understand the role that the local church plays in the lives of the 
community and in the lives of the people of Tennessee. The burnings in 
question serve as an attack on one of our Nation's most sacred 
institutions. We must act now to put an end to these crimes and to 
bring those responsible to justice.
  I applaud my colleagues who joined me in supporting H.R. 3525. 
Together we are sending a clear statement that this type of crime is 
unacceptable and those responsible will be severely punished.

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