HCONRES 187 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

Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 20, 1996

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Jun 14, 1996

Received in the Senate.

Jun 13, 1996

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jun 13, 1996

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Jun 13, 1996

Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Jun 13, 1996

The previous question was ordered pursuant to a previous order of the House.

Jun 13, 1996

DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous unanimous consent agreement, the House proceeded with 50 minutes of general debate.

Jun 13, 1996

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H6390-6399)

Jun 13, 1996

Mr. Watts (OK) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

Jun 13, 1996

Committee on Judiciary discharged.

Jun 13, 1996

Mr. Watts (OK) asked unanimous consent that the time for general debate on the bill be limited to not to exceed 50 minutes and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution without intervening motion. Agreed to without objection.

Jun 13, 1996

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jun 13, 1996

Introduced in House

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) American citizens to observe a national week of prayer beginning June 16, and ending June 23, 1996, in their places of worship.

What's happening now June 20, 1996

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Committees of jurisdiction 2