[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2219-E2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2007

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown 
Terrorist Prevention Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished 
colleague from California, Representative Harman. This important 
legislation recognizes the threat of homegrown terrorism and seeks to 
address this burgeoning problem while maintaining the civil rights and 
liberties of American citizens.
  Since May of this year, two separate plots against strategic American 
targets have been foiled and prevented by American officials; what 
distinguishes them from previous terrorist plots against the United 
States is that the potential terrorists here had no support from Al-
Qaeda or any other overseas terrorist cells. America must be unique in 
its approach to homegrown terrorism, given the civil rights and civil 
liberties protections that are unique to America and enjoyed by all 
American citizens.
  As a senior Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Chair of 
the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure, I 
believe we can secure our homeland and remain true to our values 
simultaneously. In our fights against global terrorism, it is critical 
that Muslim Americans continue to be our allies. The Muslim American 
Community has grown in size and prominence, and is an integral part of 
the fabric of this Nation. Muslim Americans share the same values and 
ideals that make this Nation great. Ideals such as discipline, 
generosity, peace and moderation.
  Many years of civil rights jurisprudence and law have been ignored 
and thrown out the window when the racial profiling, harassment, and 
discrimination of Muslim and Arab Americans is permitted to occur with 
impunity. These practices show a reckless and utter disregard for the 
fundamental values on which our country is founded: namely, due 
process, the presumption of innocence, nondiscrimination, 
individualized rather than group suspicion, and equitable application 
of the law. We cannot allow xenophobia, prejudice, and bigotry to 
prevail, and eviscerate the Constitution we are bound to protect.
  The securing of our homeland and protection of our national security 
is on the forefront of my agenda. However, using 9/11 as an impetus to 
engage in racial profiling, harassment, and discrimination of Muslim 
and Arab Americans is not only deplorable, it undermines our civil 
liberties and impedes our success in the global war on terror. We must 
fight our war on terror without compromising our freedoms and 
liberties.
  It is precisely for these reasons that I so strongly support H.R. 
1955. This Act calls for

[[Page E2220]]

the creation for the creation of the National Commission to examine the 
various causes of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in 
order to propose concrete and meaningful recommendations and 
legislative strategies in order to alleviate these threats. It also 
establishes a Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Radicalization 
and Home Grown Terrorism that will study the social, criminal, 
political, psychological and economic roots of the problem as well as 
provide homeland security officials across the government with 
suggestions for preventing radicalization and home grown terrorism.
  Furthermore, it requires our homeland security officials to 
thoroughly examine the experiences of other nations that have 
experienced homegrown terrorism so that our government might learn from 
those experiences. As such, H.R. 1955 does more than merely address the 
current situation with regard to homegrown terrorism but also works to 
identify the causes behind the problem and address them as well.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation.

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