IB

Union Calendar No. 309

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3525

[Report No. 104–621]

To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the Federal jurisdiction

over offenses relating to damage to religious property.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 23, 1996

Mr. HYDE (for himself and Mr. CONYERS) introduced the following bill; which

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JUNE 17, 1996

Additional sponsors: Mr. HEINEMAN, Mr. HOKE, Mr. CANADY of Florida, Mr.

CALVERT, Mr. HORN, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut, Mr.

STOCKMAN, Mrs. MORELLA, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. FATTAH,

Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. FRAZER, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms.

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. BRYANT of Texas, Mr. MINGE, Mr. BONIOR, Ms.

LOFGREN, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. WATT of

North Carolina, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. HILLIARD, Ms. RIVERS, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. FROST, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. SCOTT, Mrs. SCHROEDER, Mr.

SCHUMER, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. NADLER, Mr. REED, Mr.

BECERRA, Mr. FORD, Mr. CHAPMAN, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mr. WARD, Mr.

EDWARDS, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. JOHNSTON of

Florida, Mr. PARKER, Mr. TANNER, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. SPENCE, Mr. PACKARD, Mr.

HALL of Ohio, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. FLANAGAN, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. COBLE, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. JACOBS, Mr. WOLF, Mr. GEKAS,

Mr. LAZIO of New York, Ms. GREENE of Utah, Mr. TEJEDA, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. DIXON, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. BUYER,

Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina, Mr. DAVIS, Mr. GILCHREST, Miss COLLINS of Michigan, Mr. BLUTE, Mr. ROEMER, Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska,

Mr. TALENT, Mr. UPTON, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. EVANS, Mr. PETERSON of

Minnesota, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. PICKETT, Mr.

DINGELL, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. STENHOLM, and Mr. PAYNE of New

Jersey
2

•HR 3525 RH

JUNE 17, 1996

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the Federal

jurisdiction over offenses relating to damage to religious

property.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Church Arson Preven5 tion Act of 1996’’.

6 SEC. 2. DAMAGE TO RELIGIOUS PROPERTY.

7 Section 247(b) of title 18, United States Code, is

8 amended—

9 (1) so that paragraph (1) reads as follows:

10 ‘‘(1) the offense is in or affects interstate or

11 foreign commerce; and’’; and

12 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$10,000’’

13 and inserting ‘‘$5,000’’.

14 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

15 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Church Arson Preven16 tion Act of 1996’’.
3

•HR 3525 RH

1 SEC. 2. DAMAGE TO RELIGIOUS PROPERTY.

2 Section 247 of title 18, United States Code, is amend3 ed—

4 (1) so that subsection (b) reads as follows:

5 ‘‘(b) The circumstances referred to in subsection (a) are

6 that the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign com7 merce.’’; and

8 (2) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘, racial, or

9 ethnic’’ before ‘‘character’’.
Union Calendar No. 309

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3525

[Report No. 104–621]

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify

damage to religious property.the Federal jurisdiction over offenses relating to

JUNE 17, 1996

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Commitordered to be printed tee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and