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HCONRES 186 104th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Arson Blacks and crime Church property Churches Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Commemorations Congress Congressional tributes Crime prevention Criminal investigation Destruction of property Fines (Penalties) Hate crimes Legislation Minorities Prosecution Racial violence Religion Religious liberty

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to recent church burnings.

Introduced: June 13, 1996 See on congress.gov
This resolution expired with the 104th Congress
It was not agreed to before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, so it is no longer active. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
Jun 13, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 13, 1996
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Condemns the burning of African-American churches. Sends condolences to affected individuals. Supports the activities of local law enforcement officials, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Treasury in investigating these incidents.

Urges: (1) the United States Attorney General and local prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty available under law to punish the perpetrators; and (2) the President to make the fullest possible use of all available law enforcement resources to bring the culprits to justice.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) attacks on places of worship because of the race, color, denomination, or ethnicity of the congregation undermine fundamental American ideals; (2) these fires appear to be hate crimes and implicitly interfere with the First Amendment and other civil rights of the victims; (3) the arson of a place of worship is repulsive to us as a society; and (4) it is important that the Congress enact legislation to ensure that Federal law enforcement has the necessary tools to punish and deter such acts.

Encourages: (1) the people of the United States to work within their own communities to prevent arson against African-American or any other house of worship; and (2) the American people to use June 16th as a day of prayer concerning these tragedies.

What's happening now June 13, 1996

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Con. Res. 186: Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to recent church burnings.. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-186/
MLA
"H. Con. Res. 186: Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to recent church burnings.." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-186/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Con. Res. 186, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-186/.
Markdown link
[H. Con. Res. 186: Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to recent church burnings.](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-186/)
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