DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF THREATS IN AMERICA ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 158
(Extensions of Remarks - October 01, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF
THREATS IN AMERICA ACT
______
speech of
HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a
letter endorsing H.R. 3106 from the Leadership Conference on Civil and
Human Rights.
The Leadership Conference
on Civil and Human Rights,
Washington, DC, September 26, 2019.
Dear Representative: On behalf of The Leadership Conference
on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200
national organizations committed to promoting and protecting
the civil and human rights of all persons in the United
States, we urge you to support the Domestic and International
Terrorism Act (DATA Act) (H.R.3106).
Congress should use its oversight and appropriations power
to demand that federal agencies make public how it is using
its resources to fight white supremacist violence. Congress
must pass pertinent legislation like the DATA Act to
strengthen laws related to hate violence in this country.The
DATA Act will provide Congress information about the federal
government's approach to counterterrorism, including data on
investigations and prosecutions.
We support the DATA Act because it promotes increased
oversight of federal counterterrorism activities without
creating enhanced authorities or resources like new offices.
The most recent data from FBI documented that hate crimes
against African Americans, Latinos, the LGBTQ community,
Native Americans, Jews, and Muslims all increased in 2017.
Through the DATA Act, Congress has devised ways to improve
federal and state responses to hate violence, including how
to address FBI Hate Crime Statistics Act underreporting. The
DATA Act comes at a crucial time, when too many people in
this country feel unwelcome, unsafe, and marginalized due to
acts of terror. There is little question that violence
committed against individuals because of their race,
religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender
identity, disability, or sexual orientation remains a serious
problem in America. The DATA Act will study these current
trends with the intention of combatting hate.
The Leadership Conference applauds Chairman Thompson for
placing this key legislation on the suspension calendar for a
House vote. The DATA Act will assist Congress in its efforts
to elevate the fight against white supremacy and end a
climate in which individual perpetrators feel emboldened to
act.
Sincerely,
Vanita Gupta,
President & CEO.
____________________