HR 3525 104th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Arson Assault Authorization Bank loans Charities Church property Churches Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil rights enforcement Commemorations Compensation for victims of crime Congress Congressional tributes Crime prevention Criminal investigation Criminal statistics Department of Justice Department of the Treasury Destruction of property

Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996

Introduced: June 11, 1996 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 29 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jul 3, 1996

Became Public Law No: 104-155.

Jul 3, 1996

Signed by President.

Jul 3, 1996

Presented to President.

Jun 27, 1996

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

Jun 27, 1996

On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H6982)

Jun 27, 1996

Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H6982)

Jun 27, 1996

Mr. Hyde asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.

Jun 27, 1996

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Jun 26, 1996

Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-0. Record Vote No: 171.

Jun 26, 1996

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-0. Record Vote No: 171.

Jun 26, 1996

Amendment SP 4341 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

Jun 26, 1996

Amendment SP 4341 proposed by Senator Faircloth.

Jun 26, 1996

Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S6937-6945)

Jun 20, 1996

Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 453.

Jun 19, 1996

Received in the Senate.

Jun 18, 1996

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

Jun 18, 1996

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 422 - 0 (Roll No. 248).

Jun 18, 1996

Considered as unfinished business.

Jun 18, 1996

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

Jun 18, 1996

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

Jun 18, 1996

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6451-6462, H6478-6479)

Jun 18, 1996

Mr. Hyde moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Jun 17, 1996

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.

Jun 17, 1996

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 104-621.

Jun 11, 1996

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Jun 11, 1996

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 24, 1996

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E930)

May 23, 1996

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

May 23, 1996

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 1

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Jun 18, 1996	House · vote #248	On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended	Passed	422–0	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
SAMDT 4,341	—	To propose a substitute.	Agreed to	Jun 26, 1996

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 - Makes Federal criminal code prohibitions against, and penalties for, damaging religious property or obstructing any person's free exercise of religious beliefs applicable where the offense is in or affects interstate commerce. (Currently such provisions apply where: (1) the defendant, in committing the offense, travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in interstate or foreign commerce; and (2) the loss exceeds $10,000.)

Prohibits intentionally defacing, damaging, or destroying religious property (or attempting to do so) because of the race, color, or ethnic characteristics of any individual associated with such property.

Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to: (1) include such crimes where victims suffer death or personal injury as "compensable crimes"; and (2) require the chief executive of each State to certify that priority shall be given to eligible crime victim assistance programs providing assistance to such victims.

What's happening now July 3, 1996

Became Public Law No: 104-155.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 7 versions

Engrossed Amendment Senate Formatted Text PDF
Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
Enrolled Bill Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Placed on Calendar Senate Formatted Text PDF
Public Law Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 1

Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives

Cosponsors 12

Bishop, Sanford D.

Georgia · Jun 17, 1996

Fields, Cleo

Louisiana · Jun 11, 1996

Graham, Lindsey

South Carolina · Jun 11, 1996

Lofgren, Zoe

California · Jun 11, 1996

Nadler, Jerrold

New York · Jun 11, 1996

Norton, Eleanor Holmes

District of Columbia · Jun 11, 1996

Reed, Jack

Rhode Island · Jun 11, 1996

Schumer, Charles E.

New York · Jun 11, 1996

Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"

Virginia · Jun 11, 1996

Velázquez, Nydia M.

New York · Jun 11, 1996

Waters, Maxine

California · Jun 11, 1996

Calvert, Ken

California · Jun 6, 1996

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3525: Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3525/

MLA

"H.R. 3525: Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3525/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 3525, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3525/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 3525: Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3525/)