[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2016

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on April 26, 2016, I was 
unavoidably detained and missed roll call votes 164 and 165. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``no'' on roll call 164, the Combating 
Terrorist Recruitment Act, and ``yes'' on roll call 165, the Investor 
Clarity and Bank Parity Act.
  Despite missing the vote, I remain strongly opposed to H.R. 4820, the 
Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act. As a former Homeland Security 
official and a Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I understand 
the importance of a complete intelligence picture to counterterrorism 
operations. As this bill indicates, part of understanding threats to 
our homeland is receiving testimony from reformed terrorists. 
Responsible collection would involve looking at threats from every 
angle, including Islamic, right wing, environmental and other types of 
extremism. This bill fails in that regard, choosing instead to focus on 
those associated with foreign terrorist organizations.
  This bill also plays into a disturbing narrative that Muslims are the 
sole source of terrorism in the United States. The reality, supported 
by academic research and federal agency testimony, is that the threat 
from right wing extremism is even more pervasive. While the attacks in 
Chattanooga and San Bernardino were carried out by Muslim extremists, 
the attacks at a church in Charleston and a Sikh temple in Wisconsin 
were by right wing extremists. Extremism, regardless of ideological 
basis, is dangerous and must be countered. Further perpetrating a false 
narrative about the outsized threat posed by Muslims does nothing but 
promote fear of American Muslims and ostracize them in communities 
across our country.
  It is important for us to remember that an attack by a sovereign 
citizen or racial supremacist is just as devastating as an attack by a 
Muslim terrorist. If Congress hopes to strengthen our national security 
apparatus, rather than stoke fear, we should be looking for every 
possible opportunity to balance our counterterrorism efforts. We need 
to look at all threats, both foreign and domestic.

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