Rep. Thompson sends request for oversight hearings, bill markup for countering domestic threats to religious institutions

U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) sent a public request last week to U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, for a comprehensive oversight hearing on the various domestic threats on religious institutions and a markup to pass the Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act.

Thompson, who serves as the ranking Democratic member of the committee, introduced the act for consideration. The legislation calls for $30 million in grants from the Department of Homeland Security for enhanced security protections for non-profits deemed to be at risk of a terrorist attack.

Thompson’s request comes in the wake of a series of domestic threats made against 71 Jewish Community Centers in 32 states across the country. In addition, five Anti-Defamation League locations and multiple Jewish day schools also received similar threats.

The Southern Poverty Law Center recently announced that the number of active hate groups in the United States rose to a total of 917, 514 of which hold anti-Semitic views.

“The threat posed by violent extremism is not limited to a single ideology and that groups and individuals inspired by a wide range of religious, political, or other ideological beliefs have promoted and used violence against the United States,” Thompson said. “There are no easy solutions to this security challenge, as the paths to terrorism are as diverse as the perpetrators. Nonetheless, our committee has a moral obligation and a congressional responsibility to ask the tough questions and move forward legislation in an effort to protect our nation from terrorism – no matter the source.”