According to hate crimes statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, criminal acts motivated by bias against ethnicity/national origin were the second-most frequently reported bias in 2001, more than doubling the number of incidents, offenses, victims and known offenders from 2000 data and the anti-other ethnicity/national origin category quadrupled in incidents, offenses, victims, and known offenders.
Similarly, the number of anti-Islamic incidents grew 1,600 percent between the year 2000 and 2001, taking such incidents from the second-least reported category of reported religious-bias incidents in 2000 to the second-highest category of religious-bias in 2001.
Mr. Speaker, there can be no room for hatred and bigotry in America. Our history has taught us that when we rise above such hatred, we are stronger as a Nation. Too often in our history, fear and panic have resulted in discrimination and even oppression by our government of groups perceived to be a threat. Invariably, when things calm down and cooler heads prevail, there is a great sense of national shame at the injustices perpetuated against innocent people whose only crime was their race, religion, national origin or ethnicity.
It is important that this House go on record as condemning these reprehensible acts which betray what is best about our Nation. We are a diverse Nation, and we are the stronger for it. We are we cannot permit blind hatred to destroy that.
In addition to this resolution, I would hope that this House will also turn its attention to the extent to which the government has assaulted the rights of innocent individuals simply because of their race, religion or national origin. In addition to the hate crimes perpetuated by individuals, we must be vigilant that the power of government not be abused and that people not be targeted by law enforcement even if they have done nothing wrong.
The right to live free from violence and discrimination is a fundamental right of all Americans. So long as one American is denied that right, no one can truly be free. I urges all my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), to sponsor this important resolution in condemning violence against South Asians in America.
As the Republican co-chair of the caucus on India and Indian Americans, I am very concerned about the weekly occurrences of violence committed against Indian Americans, especially Sikhs. Every week in national newspapers like India Abroad and News India-Times, I read reports of violence and even homicides committed against Indian Americans working in gas stations, convenience stores, food delivery positions, or driving taxis. I am concerned some of these attacks are motivated by ignorance and fear. These hardworking citizens perform some of the most thankless jobs in America. They are also vulnerable to physical harm due to their solitary conditions and late work hours.
There can be no justification for attacking a fellow American simply because of their skin color or religion. Americans understand we feel anger toward the terrorists who murdered our countrymen on September 11. However, we must not rush to judgment and display prejudice or bias against those Americans of South Asian descent, people who are just as angered about the attack on our country and just as eager to defeat terrorism. We must rally together as a Nation to prevent bias-motivated crimes against Indian Americans.
Schools must continue to educate student bodies so that harassment and violence against Sikh boys no longer occur. Further, we must vigorously prosecute these crimes when they do happen.
I want to commend Attorney General John Ashcroft because he is taking the necessary steps to aggressively root out those who seek to harm this Nation, yet maintain the civil rights of those citizens who are here legally and abide by our laws.
I want to again thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for his leadership in introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 234, a resolution to condemn bigotry and violence against many vital ethnic communities in the United States; and I want to say, unfortunately, many individuals including South Asian Americans, Arab Americans, Sikh Americans, and Muslim Americans have been targets of hate crimes for decades, being subject to assault, verbal slurs and property damage; but since the 9/11 attacks, there has been a significant backlash against men and women from all of these communities.
In my own district in New Jersey, I represent a number of Indian Americans, both Hindu, Muslim and Sikh, who have been targets of violence and discrimination. To my knowledge, eating establishments and places of worship have been damaged and vandalized as a result of systematic bigotry and racism. Moreover, South Asian Americans are specifically being targeted with violence because in the minds of some they had been inaccurately associated with those responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to mention specifically the Sikh American community because at several forums that I held after 9/11 two years ago, they in particular came to the forums. I remember one specifically at Rutgers University in my district where many of them had talked personally about the problems that they had. The Sikhs, as many of my colleagues know, wear the turbans usually, and they also carry a symbolic, although it is not a real knife, a symbolic sort of something that looks like a knife; and they in particular I know have been the subject of many of these attacks. We need to be very clear about the fact that the Sikh American community in no way was responsible for anything related to 9/11.
In addition to that, I know that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) and I at the time of 9/11 two years ago, just a few days later, there was one of our constituents from Milltown, I represented Milltown at the time. My colleague represents Milltown now, but we had one of the most reprehensible of these attacks that was perpetrated on Waqar Hasan, a resident of Milltown who had recently moved to Texas. This was only 4 days after 9/11 on September 15. He was shot to death in his Texas grocery store in the most extreme form of misplaced revenge since the 9/11 tragedy.
Mr. Hasan, his wife and four daughters are Muslims who emigrated to the United States in 1990, full of the hope and excitement that many new immigrants feel as they begin their lives afresh in America as Americans. But that happiness was cut short not by terrorists a million miles away but by a fellow American who felt justified in taking the life of an innocent man and destroying the lives of a wife and four children out of bigotry and hatred.
This spate of attacks on innocent Americans like Mr. Hasan around the country is a reprehensible reaction to a tragedy that befell all of America on 9/11, and they must not be tolerated.
Let me just say, Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution. It condemns such acts of hatred against innocent individuals. I also believe that Congress must support the enforcement of hate crime laws, provide support and protection to targeted ethnic communities, and reject policies that are inherently biased against South Asian Americans and Arab Americans.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of this resolution and congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), who could not be here this afternoon for consideration of the resolution. I know it was his idea to have this resolution offered. As someone who represents a district with a
large Arab American population, I can tell my colleagues that they contribute mightily to our community in so many different ways.
My grandparents came to Peoria, Illinois, in 1895 from a region of Lebanon and settled in Peoria; and as a result of their being the first Lebanese Americans to settle in our neck of the woods, they were able to persuade others to come over. In those days, I am sure they were not known as Arab Americans. They were known as immigrants who came to America seeking the American Dream, and I think that has been true for decades of Arab Americans who have come to this country and contributed an awful lot to our society and contributed a lot to the growth of our country and the stability of our country.
It was not till 9/11, I think, until maybe people had a different point of view about Arab Americans and also perhaps Muslims; but these people have contributed so much, and I think it is important for Congress to speak out in a way that says that these folks are good Americans, they are good citizens. They contribute a great deal to our country.
I might make note, too, of the fact that there are Arab Americans serving in this body, including the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. John), John Sununu who once served in the House and now is in the other body, and of course, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), and also in the administration Spencer Abraham who was also a member of the other body. So not only have Arab Americans contributed a great deal to the country and to the greatness of this country but have contributed also to the great body that we call the House of Representatives and to the other body.
So I think it is worth noting the contribution of Arab Americans and the fact that 9/11 has made a little different way of life for them and that Congress recognizes their contribution; and I appreciate the fact that this resolution recognizes that and appreciate the fact that the chairman has allowed me to recognize their contributions.
I thank the chairman for his indulgence.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding me this time.
I rise today to speak in strong support of this resolution. We have all seen the rise in violence against our fellow Americans, whether they are of Arab, Muslim, South Asian or Sikh descent, since the September 11 attack upon our Nation. Our Nation must not allow these attacks to continue. We need to work together to ensure that these types of crimes no longer occur.
A family in my district in Queens fell victim to a hate crime of this nature in August of this year. The Singh family, a proud Sikh American family of Woodside, Queens, my hometown, was attacked simply because of the way they looked. I am proud that the neighbors of the Singh family called the police when this hate crime was occurring and even came to their assistance during the attacks. That is the neighborhood of Woodside that I know and love.
A strong community is what it will take to stop these horrendous crimes from occurring in the future. It is hard for all of us to understand how people have so much hate in them, and we need to all work together to ensure that hate crimes stop. Whether they are against Sikhs, Blacks, Muslims, Jews or gays, hate crimes need to be stopped.
The best way, I believe, to stop hate crimes is through education. By bringing this problem out in the open, we can start to solve it by educating our population.
During July, I held a congressional briefing as the co-chair of the Caucus on India and Indian American Affairs about the rise of hate crimes against the South Asian population here in the United States. A representative of Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force, also known as SMART, attended this briefing and spoke with Members of the Congress on the importance of educating people so they understand the culture and will be less likely to participate in hate crimes. I commend SMART's efforts to work not only within the Sikh community but with all communities affected by hate crimes. We all must work together to ensure that these types of crimes no longer occur.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for the time.
I rise today to voice my strong support to House Resolution 234, introduced in a bipartisan way by the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur). House Resolution 234 condemns bigotry and violence against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans, and Sikh Americans at a time when Americans in these communities are facing unprecedented levels of discrimination and abuse.
We cannot stand by and allow the ignorance of a few to overcome the tradition of tolerance in this Nation of Nations. I urge my colleagues to vote unanimously for this important resolution and, in so doing, send a clear and bipartisan message to all Americans that Congress will not accept, condone, or ignore acts of hatred.
Although the tragic events of September 11, 2001, united most Americans, some misguided individuals in our society have taken their anger and directed it at their neighbors because they look different or subscribe to a different religion.
We Americans have struggled throughout our history to purge ourselves of crippling stereotypes that spread a cloud of ignorance and despair on our otherwise great society. Members of this Congress and of the larger American community fought valiantly in the 1960s to end legal racial discrimination against African Americans. We have come a long way since the days of sanctioned racism, but we still have miles to go to eradicate the vestiges of bigotry that from time to time consume the ignorant among us.
In my home State of New Jersey, many of my constituents of Asian descent, many of Muslim religion or Sikh religion have suffered acts of violence simply due to their religion or the color of their skin. One of the most tragic cases involved the murder 4 days after September 11, 2001, of Waqar Hasan who was shot to death in his convenience store by a man who said he did it to retaliate against ``Arab Americans or whatever you want to call them.'' Hasan was a Pakistani immigrant who was murdered for no other reason than that he was a Muslim with a Middle Eastern face.
When Mr. Hasan was murdered, the visas and applications for permanent residency of his wife and four daughters died with him. After building lives in America for 9 years, the Hasan family has gone from being one step away from permanent residency to one step away from deportation.
Earlier this year, I introduced legislation, H.R. 867, to prevent the deportation of Waqar's wife and four daughters, who without this would be forced to leave America. I have been working closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I am grateful to the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary and its Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims for their bipartisan support of the Hasan family. I look forward to continue to work with them in the coming weeks to pass H.R. 867.
Today, Congress can take a step to help the Hasan family and immigrant families like them and any other families who are victims of racism and bigotry by passing House Resolution 234. We will be making a promise to the American people and all who seek a new life of opportunity on our shores that here in America we treat each other with dignity and respect.
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Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, South Asian-Americans and Sikh-Americans are a vital part of America. These communities join other ethnic and religious groups as they and their ancestors came to this nation in search of political freedom and economic opportunity. They have flourished in this nation and have made great contributions to our society. They have joined the ranks of service-members, law enforcement officers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and business people. They also hold positions of leadership in this society, including members of Congress and Cabinet members.
But, tragically in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, some bigots turned against Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans, and South Asian-Americans, and singled them out as targets for violence and threats of violence. Hate crimes against these communities, including violent physical assaults, increased sharply. The FBI reported that the number of anti-Muslim incidents increased by 1600 percent from 2001 to 2002, largely in response to this post 9/11 backlash. Obviously this kind of increase has only added evermore to the awesome responsibilities facing law enforcement offices. Therefore, it is unfortunate that their resources must be directed to the unreasonable few rotten applies that take out their vengeance on the unsuspecting innocent.
Most Americans all over responded and came to the support of Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans, and South Asian-Americans, condemning the attacks and embracing these communities. A resolution at that time, which I cosponsored, was passed that condemned violence against these groups.
But, now again Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans, and South Asian-Americans are suffering, and it is again time to express support for them. Since the time when the war in Iraq began, hate crimes have seen another hike. There was a man who law enforcement believes was motivated by anti-Arab sentiment, when he allegedly shot four people to death in New York City during February and March. Even after President Bush declared that major combat operations had ended, the hate crimes against Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh-Americans have continued.
These crimes are wrong and are opposed to the values of American society. We must condemn them in the most serious and strongest terms, and law enforcement must investigate and vigorously prosecute the perpetrators.
By the same token, we must pay close attention to the concerns of Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans and South Asian-Americans, that the federal government views them with suspicion, and they are being subjected to grossly heightened levels of surveillance as a result of their national or religious origins. Counter-terrorism efforts must not discriminate on the basis of national origin or religion or violate the civil liberties of innocent Americans. The government's efforts to combat terrorism must focus on criminal or terrorist behavior, not ethnicity or creed.
Discriminatory counter-terrorism tactics and those that violate civil liberties are wrong and do not make the country safer. We must look to history, which has shown us that respect for individual rights enhances our stability and security. Singling out mostly innocent Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh Americans runs counter to the principle of rejecting the use of racial and ethnic profiling, while we need to focus on building trust and respect by working cooperatively with community members.
The resolution before us today, H. Res. 234, recognizes that Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans, and South Asian-Americans greatly contribute to American society and serve honorably in the military or law enforcement and it urges respect for civil rights and liberties, condemns bias-motivated crimes against members of these communities, and calls upon federal and local law enforcement to prosecute such crimes vigorously. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support it.
Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to today in support of H. Res. 234--legislation condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, South Asian-Americans, and Sikh-Americans. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important legislation.
After the tragic events of September 11th, the Muslim community became the target of a major upsurge in hate crimes and discrimination. In just the first nine weeks after the attacks, over 700 violent incidents occurred targeting Arab Americans, Muslims, and others perceived to be such. These same citizens faced a four-fold increase in employment discrimination.
Crimes and incidents driven by bias and hatred must not be tolerated in a peaceful democracy. Our position of power and influence also brings a responsibility to celebrate our diversity and protect the rights of all in our nation.
As we continue to fight a war against terrorism and hatred, we have a golden opportunity to show the world that we celebrate our diversity; that every American citizen and everyone who visits here will not be in danger because of their national origin or religious faith; that we will not stand for bigotry and other divisive actions; that we are a Nation united as one.
Mr. Speaker, this important legislation received unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee, on which I sit, and I urge my colleagues to overwhelmingly support its passage by the full House.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 234 concerning the condemnation of bigotry and violence against Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh-Americans. As a co-sponsor of this resolution, I won't hesitate to vocalize my support for it and echo its import.
RACIAL PROFILING AND TERRORISM
The events of September 11, 2001 have had a profound impact on racial profiling. Following the terrorist attacks, law enforcement agents have subjected individuals of Arab or South Asian descent, Muslims, and Sikhs to racial profiling. While national and local statistics are not yet available, anecdotal accounts of how Arabs, Muslims, and Sikhs have endured racial profiling abound the informational resources.
For example, in the months following September 11th, a new type of racial profiling has developed: ``driving while Arab.'' Arabs, Muslim, and Sikhs across the country were subjected to traffic stops and searches based in whole or part on their ethnicity or religion. On October 4, 2001 in Gwinnett, Georgia an Arab motorist's car was stopped, he was approached by a police officer whose gun was drawn, and he was called a ``bin Laden supporter'' all for making an illegal U-turn. On October 8, 2001, two Alexandria, VA police officers stopped three Arab motorists. The officers questioned the motorists about a verse of the Koran hanging from the rear view mirror, and asked about documents in the back seat. The police officer confiscated the motorists' identification cards and drove off without explanation. He returned 10 minutes later, and claimed he had had to take another call. On December 5, 2001, a veiled Muslim woman in Burbank, Illinois was stopped by a police officer for driving with suspended plates. The officer asked the woman when Ramadan was over, asked her offensive question about her hair, and pushed her into his patrol car as he arrested her for driving with suspended plates. The woman was released from custody later that day.
A particularly egregious form of terrorism profiling occurs when Arab men and women are detained and deported without due process. Since September 11th, hundreds of Arab and Muslim individuals have been detained on suspicion of terrorist activity. Practically none of these individuals was involved with terrorism. However, many were detained for weeks and eventually charged with minor immigration violations. Based on these minor immigration violations some were deported. In one case, two Pakistani immigrants were arrested and detained 45 days for allegedly overstaying their visas. In another case an Israeli was detained for 66 days before being charged with entering the United
States unlawfully. In a particularly shocking case, a French teacher from Yemen, who was married to an American citizen and therefore eligible to become a citizen himself, was reporting for duty as an army recruit at Fort Campbell, Kentucky on September 15, 2001. The man was apprehended by federal agents, separated from his wife and interrogated for 12 hours. The agents accused him of violating immigration laws, conspiring with Russian terrorists, spousal abuse, and threatened him with beatings. The man was given a lie detector test which proved he was telling the truth when he denied being associated with terrorists.
Expounding upon the above issue is a trend of ethnic profiling against South Asian-Americans relative to the SARS pandemic. People have been treated with indifference and hostility because of their racial background. This treatment is simply founded upon ignorance. Human rights and the principles of due process, freedom of expression, and freedom of association should not be compromised by ignorance.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF RACIAL PROFILING
The consequences of racial profiling for minority groups in the United States, for Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh groups, and in the immigrations context are dire for individuals who are both innocent and guilty of criminal activity. In the case of the innocent, for every person in possession of drugs apprehended through profiling, many more law-abiding minorities are treated as if they are criminals. A 1999 Gallup Poll revealed that 42 percent of African Americans, and 72 percent of African American males between the ages of 18 and 34, believe they have been stopped by police because of their race. In fact, many minorities choose to drive certain cars, on certain routes, wearing certain clothes, to avoid drawing attention from police.
For those individuals who have been convicted of felonies, racial profiling contributes to the disparity in arrest and crime rates that leads to the minority-majority prison population. Blacks are just 12 percent of the U.S. population and 11 percent of drug users, but Blacks are 38 percent of those arrested for drug offenses and 59 percent of those convicted for drug offenses. Hispanics make up 13 percent of the population and 10 percent of illicit drug users, but they are 37 percent of the overall prison population. Racial profiling increases the stops and arrests of minority groups. Frequent stops and arrests of minorities generate more extensive criminal histories, and result in longer sentences. Nearly one in three Black males aged 20-29 on any given day is either in prison, on probation, or on parole. As of 1995, one in 14 adult Black males was in prison or jail on any given day. A Black male born in 1991 has a 33 percent chance of spending part of his life in prison. A Hispanic male has a one in six chance.
Racial profiling results in increased arrests and convictions of minorities. In many States, a felony conviction can impact a person's ability to exercise their basic social rights. In 46 States and the District of Columbia, convicted adults cannot vote. Thirty-two States disenfranchise felons on parole, while 29 States disenfranchise felons on probation. In part due to racial profiling, 1.4 million Black men, 13 percent of all adult Black males, are denied the right to vote. In two States, 31 percent of all adult Black males are permanently disenfranchised.
For the reasons stated above, Mr. Speaker and Ranking Member, I support the Resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh-Americans that I have co-sponsored. I would ask that my Colleagues join my fellow sponsors in fighting bigotry with H. Res. 234.
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, There is no room for bias-motivated or hate crimes against fellow Americans. As America fights to defend the values of tolerance and freedom abroad, we must also work vigorously to ensure these values are protected at home.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 256, condemning bigotry and violence against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikh Americans.
I want to thank Congressman ISSA, along with Congressman LAHOOD, Congressman CONYERS, Congressman DINGELL, Congressman RAHALL and Congressman HONDA for their help on this legislation, along with approximately 50 other colleagues--from both sides of the aisle and all parts of the country--who co-sponsored this measure.
The resolution is straightforward. It acknowledges the contributions to our Nation that have been made by Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans, and Sikh Americans.
This measure notes that members of these groups have served honorably in our military and in law enforcement, working every day to protect the American people.
The measure also affirms that we as a Congress are concerned by the incidents of bias-motivated crimes against Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, Arab Americans and South Asian Americans.
And we condemn any acts of bigotry or violence directed against Americans of these groups.
We call upon law enforcement officials throughout America to investigate thoroughly and prosecute vigorously any crimes committed against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans or South Asian Americans.
There is a place in America for people of all races, creeds and colors.
There is no place in America for bigotry, prejudice and violence.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 234. I am delighted to have had the honor of authoring this resolution with my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Ohio, MARCY KAPTUR. I also am grateful to the gentleman from Wisconsin, Chairman JIM SENSENBRENNER, for his fine work in moving this bill through his Committee to the House floor.
I am pleased to be joined by over 52 Members who co-sponsored this resolution. Twenty other Members have also expressed their strong support for the resolution since it passed out of the Judiciary Committee on the 25th of July. ALCEE HASTINGS, JAN SCHAKOWSKY, BOB FILNER, MARTIN SABO, MAURICE HINCHEY, DENISE MAJETTE, CHRIS SHAYS, NEIL ABERCROMBIE, LEE TERRY, HENRY WAXMAN, JOHN OLVER, JUDY BIGGERT, ROD KIND, LLOYD DOGGETT, CIRO RODRIGUEZ, BILL PASCRELL, and ROBERT MATSUI have all told me that they would like to be formally recognized for their support of this resolution. I thank them for their support.
This is an important moment for Arab-American, Muslim American, Sikh-American, and South Asian American communities throughout the United States. These communities have experienced increased levels of bigotry and violence since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
In the first nine weeks following the September 11 tragedy, there were about 700 violent incidents directed at Arab-Americans or those perceived to be Arab-Americans, like Sikh Americans and South Asian Americans. Fortunately, this rate dropped very quickly after those first nine weeks, thanks in large part to President Bush's repeated calls for tolerance.
The President's leadership on this issue prompted thousands of state and local officials, community leaders, and private citizens across the country to reach out to these minority groups with voices of compassion and support. I am delighted that Congress can now formally join them in standing by our fellow Americans who have unfairly had to live a cloud of suspicion.
Arab-Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans and South Asian Americans have all contributed greatly to this nation. Many serve in elected office, law enforcement agencies, or the military. The Commanding General of CENTCOM, John Abizaid, is an American of Arab ancestry. These men and women are part of the kaleidoscope of cultures that makes up this country. While they come from many diverse backgrounds, all of them traveled to America for one main reason: to taste freedom. We treat them as brothers and sisters because they share our desire to live in a nation that is tolerant, just, and free.
Again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your fine work on this effort.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 234, a bill condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, South Asian-Americans and Sikh-Americans.
More than 2 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the backlash of vandalism, harassment and violence perpetrated against members of these peaceful communities continues. This treatment is the result of misguided fear and resentment, and it is unconscionable.
This legislation before the House sends an unequivocal message that the United States does not condone prejudice or violence. It also encourages victims of hate crimes to step forward and report the incidents that affect them so that we can prosecute the perpetrators of these inexcusable acts.
Unfortunately, the fear of retaliation often prevents victims from reporting hate crimes. For example, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium has uncovered the case of an Islamic South Asian family in Southern California that received threatening phone calls and accusations of being terrorists after the September 11th attacks. One day the family returned home to find that their house had been burned down, but they did not report the arson to the police for fear of further backlash.
We in Congress have the responsibility to protect hate crime victims and to do everything in our power to prevent hate crimes in the future.
Mr. Speaker, America draws its strength from its tremendous diversity. In order to remain strong and united, we must work to eliminate hate crimes and replace suspicion with understanding so that all Americans can live without fear.
I urge my colleagues in Congress to join me in working to promote domestic peace and cultural understanding by supporting H. Res. 234.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 234, a resolution that calls for the condemnation of prejudice and violence against Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, South Asian-Americans, and Sikh-Americans, and which recognizes the contributions that these groups have made to American society. The resolution also calls upon Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies to work to prevent bias-motivated crimes and to investigate and prosecute such crimes vigorously.
Shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, I introduced a similar resolution with Congressman David Bonior. H. Con. Res. 227 condemned bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, and South Asian-Americans, and declared that the civil liberties of these and all other Americans should be protected during our efforts to bring the perpetrators and sponsors of the terrorist acts to justice.
I commend Representative DARRELL ISSA for introducing H. Res. 234. This resolution sends a strong and clear message that we will not condone prejudiced and violent crimes against any Americans. We must remember that many individuals in the Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh-American communities came to the United States seeking freedom and democracy, and they fled oppressive regimes that lack freedom of speech and religion and in some cases support terrorism. I am pleased that the House of Representatives is once again taking a firm stand on this issue, which is so important to all Americans.
I strongly support H. Res. 234 and encourage my colleagues in the House to vote in favor of this important resolution.
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Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time as well.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 234.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District, which includes downtown Dallas, Northeast, East Oak Cliff & Pleasant Grove; all of Balch Springs, De Soto, Lancaster & Hutchins and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Glen Heights, Wilmer and Ovilla.
