[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page H8525]]



        INTRODUCING THE CHURCH INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT OF 1996

  The Speaker pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Filner] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today my colleague the gentlewoman from 
Georgia, Cynthia McKinney, and I rise in defense of our Nation's sacred 
houses of worship by introducing H.R. 3830, the Church Insurance 
Protection Act of 1996.
  Our legislation will prohibit insurance companies from canceling, 
overpricing or refusing to renew fire insurance policies for any house 
of worship due to the current threat of arson. We are currently joined 
in our efforts by over 20 of our colleagues, and we are confident that 
this number will grow as more become familiar with the need for this 
important legislation.
  We cannot allow the insurer's fear of a claim to remove a 
congregation's ability to adequately protect its house of worship and 
support buildings. Our churches must be held harmless and not subject 
to punitive measures from insurance companies.
  Last month in a rare unanimous vote this House approved H.R. 3525, 
the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, to deter the epidemic assault 
on our Nation's houses of worship. It was our obligation to deter the 
flames of bigotry and ignorance that set these churches ablaze. We 
could do no less.
  Thankfully, few churches have been lost in the weeks since we passed 
this legislation. However, our work is not complete. America's churches 
are facing another threat, the loss of insurance coverage. With the 
embers of the destroyed churches still smoldering, some insurance 
companies have canceled or have threatened to cancel fire insurance 
policies for houses of worship because of the perceived increased risk 
of arson, and more companies are threatening to do the same.
  This threat has not been limited to the areas most affected by the 
church fires. Both predominantly African-American and predominantly 
white congregations in my own congressional district in San Diego have 
been threatened with loss of their fire insurance policies, as well. By 
prohibiting policy cancellations, this Church Insurance Protection Act 
extinguishes the smoldering embers that will continue to threaten our 
churches long after the fires are put out.
  America's houses for prayer are sacred places. While we continue our 
efforts to stop this current rash of arson fire and to rebuild these 
houses of worship, we must also be certain to protect their ability to 
insure themselves against future violence. Just as the House rose, with 
one voice, to denounce these hate-driven acts of arson last month, I 
hope it will unanimously endorse this measure to guarantee insurance 
protection for our churches.
  America's churches cannot wait any longer for passage of this bill. 
We urge our colleagues to act promptly to bring this important 
legislation to the full House before Congress adjourns.

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