Kustoff Celebrates Passage of Religious Liberties Bill

Washington, D.C. – September 7, 2018 – The House of Representatives today passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) to ensure that individuals who make bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against community religious centers—based on the religious nature of that center—can be prosecuted for committing a hate crime.

The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018 passed the House by unanimous consent and is headed to the White House where it awaits President Donald J. Trump's signature.

Congressman Kustoff said: "There is no place for acts of hatred in our community. Churches, synagogues, and other faith-based institutions should be safe spaces for people to openly practice their faith. Unfortunately, many community centers and places of worship are forced to temporarily close their doors as a result of hate crimes and threats. Right here in West Tennessee, we have sadly experienced multiple bomb threats at a local Jewish Community Center.

"These threats are not rare or unique to one community. Just yesterday, a synagogue in Mandeville, Louisiana was desecrated with Anti-Semitic graffiti. Sadly, because of instances like these, many families who rely on the center's services, such as bible study and early-childhood education programs, have been forced to choose between their faith community and their safety.

"I refuse to sit idly by and let hate and fear creep further into our communities and deter Americans from freely practicing their faith. Any and all credible threats against places of worship should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, not protected under it. I applaud the passage of my bill which will strengthen federal criminal statutes to prevent threats, while preserving our First Amendment rights."

Background: According to a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. skyrocketed by 86 percent in the first three months of this year. The report counted 541 anti-Semitic attacks and threats between January and March alone. Part of this year's growth is due to 155 vandalism incidents, including three cemetery desecrations, and 161 hoax bomb threats against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) and other Jewish institutions, an increase of 127 percent over the same quarter in 2016.

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