Rep. Carson introduces bill combating global white supremacist threat

U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) introduced legislation Tuesday that would uncover the threats posed by white supremacist groups both in America and abroad.

Carson, chair of the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and counterproliferation, said the groups threaten national security.

“Extremist white supremacist groups are one of the biggest threats to our security here in America and around the globe,” Carson said. “This dangerous ideology has inspired countless acts of terrorism, yet our intelligence community isn’t doing enough to prevent this growing crisis. As the Chairman of the Counterterrorism Subcommittee and a former law enforcement officer, I have been sounding the alarm about white supremacist threats for many years. Through this legislation, we can finally take the necessary steps to adequately study this growing global movement and create a better plan to stop it.”

The legislation would improve federal intelligence agencies’ ability to prioritize white supremacists extremist threats by mandating that the National Counterterrorism Center, in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security to look into and analyze the ideology and objectives driving white supremacy groups with transnational connections, including their leadership and operational structure.

“White supremacy and the terrorism inspired by that bigotry have increasingly emerged as one of the greatest risks to our country, fueling a frightening increase in hate crimes against Black, Brown, and Indigenous individuals, the Jewish community, and more,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “Policymakers need much better data and analysis on the transnational nature of white supremacist extremist threats and how foreign white supremacy groups may be influencing, funding, or otherwise supporting violent actions at home. We cannot fully address these threats without a thorough, comprehensive, and extensive understanding of the risks, which is why I am pleased to support Congressman Carson’s legislation and efforts to keep America safe from the scourge of white supremacy.”