[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE CHURCH INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT

  (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address theHouse for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this House of the 
continuing threat to our Nation's sacred houses of worship.
  Reverend J. Linzie Whitmill recently contacted me to say that his 
insurance company is threatening to cancel his church's fire protection 
policy. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Whitmill and his congregation have not 
been negligent in minimizing the risk of fire, nor have they been 
negligent in paying their insurance premiums.
  How then is it that this model insurance client is facing 
cancellation of the insurance that provides his congregation financial 
and emotional security and peace of mind? Apparently, the insurance 
company feels threatened by the recent plague of church arson. This 
injustice must be stopped.
  Before we adjourn, I urge this Congress to approveH.R. 3830, the 
Church Insurance Protection Act [CIPA] to guarantee insurance 
protection for our churches. America's churches cannot wait until next 
year for passage of this bill.

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