59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–525 

COMBATING TERRORIST RECRUITMENT ACT OF 2016 

APRIL 26, 2016.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. MCCAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 4820] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 4820) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

use the testimonials of former or estranged violent extremists or 

their associates in order to counter terrorist recruitment, and for 

other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended 

do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................... 2 

Background and Need for Legislation ....................................................... 2 

Hearings ....................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................... 4 

Committee Votes ......................................................................................... 5 

Committee Oversight Findings .................................................................. 6 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 6 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ...................................................... 7 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives ....................... 7 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................... 8 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 

Benefits ..................................................................................................... 8 

Federal Mandates Statement ..................................................................... 8 

Preemption Clarification ............................................................................ 8 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ........................................................ 8 

Advisory Committee Statement ................................................................. 8 


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Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................... 8 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ......................................... 8 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ........................ 9 

Dissenting View .......................................................................................... 10 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act of 2016’’. 

SEC. 2. DIRECTIVE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall incorporate, to the extent practicable, into Department of Homeland Security efforts to combat terrorist 

recruitment and communications the public testimonials of former or estranged violent extremists or their associates, including friends and family. Such efforts may 

include the following: 

(1) Counter-messaging of foreign terrorist organization communications and 

narratives. 

(2) Related community engagement and public education efforts. 

(b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, where appropriate, coordinate the actions described in subsection (a) with the heads of other 

Federal departments and agencies and, as appropriate, to the extent practicable, engage nongovernmental and international partners in the identification and use of 

testimonials described in such subsection. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of H.R. 4820 is to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to use the testimonials of former or estranged violent 

extremists or their associates in order to counter terrorist recruitment, and for other purposes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

In September 2015, the final report of the Committee on Homeland Security’s Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign 

Fighter Travel was released. It included 32 findings and more than 

50 recommendations for enhancing U.S. security. Among other conclusions, the Task Force found that ‘‘unlike many countries, the 

U.S. government has made little use of disaffected extremists to 

dissuade others from traveling to fight in terrorist sanctuaries.’’ 

The Task Force highlighted the need to counter-message extremist propaganda because terrorists are radicalizing Americans at unprecedented speed and ‘‘crowd-sourcing’’ attacks. The Islamic State 

of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), for instance, has been tied to more than 

80 terrorist plots and attacks against the West, according to House 

Homeland Security Committee analysis, one-third targeting America. At present, FBI director James Comey has said publicly indicated there are nearly 1,000 homegrown terror investigations in all 

50 states, mostly ISIS-related, and more than 250 Americans have 

traveled or attempted to travel to fight with jihadists in Syria and 

Iraq. This terror surge is tied to the group’s ability to recruit remotely-online and across borders. Most of these individuals were 

radicalized partly through online terrorist propaganda. 

The Task Force indicated that the United States should use 

testimonials from former extremists to keep others from joining the 

fight. ISIS is recruiting Americans with promises of paradise and 

opportunity, but defectors have revealed that the group’s territory 

is, in reality, a repressive and violent prison state. These are the 

kind of messages that need to be amplified to counter terrorist 

propaganda. As President Obama noted in February 2015 at his 


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Countering Violent Extremism Summit, we ‘‘need to lift up the 

voices of those who know the hypocrisy of groups like ISIL firsthand, including former extremists.’’ Moreover, the nonpartisan 

Homeland Security Advisory Council made a similar recommendation in a Spring 2015 report published online, urging the Department of Homeland Security ‘‘to craft and disseminate counter-narrative efforts’’ based on the testimonials of former extremists. 

The Task Force found many foreign countries have engaged disaffected extremists and returnees from terrorist battlefields to tell 

their stories and convince others not to travel to terrorist safe havens. These individuals are likely viewed by potential extremists as 

more credible voices than governments. Therefore, they stand a 

better chance of dissuading likely or future extremists from coming 

under the influence of groups like ISIS. Moreover, the U.S. State 

Department has already worked to promote the testimonials of 

former extremists abroad. 

However, the panel was disappointed to find such efforts are not 

happening here in the U.S. homeland. Key U.S. departments and 

agencies had done little to leverage the stories of American returnees or family members of those who have fled to the conflict zone. 

Accordingly, the Task Force recommended that the U.S. government ‘‘should launch a concerted effort to use the testimonials of 

disaffected ‘former’ foreign fighters, extremists, and their friends 

and relatives’’ to counter the message of terrorist groups. The panel 

also urged that the Administration should help facilitate and distribute these stories through nongovernmental channels where possible and empower non-traditional partners to do the same. 

This bill gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the flexibility 

needed to combat the wide array of terrorist groups that threaten 

the United States at home and abroad. The bill provides guidance 

on the types of activities that might fulfill the requirement, such 

as ‘‘counter-messaging foreign terrorist organization[s],’’ but it does 

not limit the Department’s ability to counter-message other dangerous terrorist groups that threaten the United States, including 

domestically. 

HEARINGS

The Committee did not hold any hearings on H.R. 4820, however, 

the Committee held the following oversight hearings: 

On February 11, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled 

‘‘Countering Violent Islamist Extremism: The Urgent Threat of 

Foreign Fighters and Homegrown Terror.’’ The Committee received 

testimony from Hon. Francis X. Taylor, Under Secretary, Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Hon. 

Nicholas J. Rasmussen, Director, National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and Mr. Michael 

B. Steinbach, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. 

On March 24, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘A 

Global Battleground: The Fight Against Islamist Extremism at 

Home and Abroad.’’ The Committee received testimony from Hon. 

Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; General Michael Hayden (USAF-Ret.), Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency and Former Director, National Security 

Agency; Mr. Philip Mudd, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation; 


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and Mr. Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Adviser to the RAND President, The RAND Corporation. 

On June 3, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘Terrorism Gone Viral: The Attack in Garland, Texas and Beyond.’’ The 

Committee received testimony from Mr. John J. Mulligan, Deputy 

DirectorNational Counterterrorism Center; Hon. Francis X. Taylor, 

Under Secretary, Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security; and Mr. Michael B. Steinbach, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 

U.S. Department of Justice. 

On July 15, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘The 

Rise of Radicalization: Is the U.S. Government Failing to Counter 

International and Domestic Terrorism?’’ The Committee received 

testimony from Ms. Farah Pandith, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council 

on Foreign Relations; Mr. Seamus Hughes, Deputy Director, Program on Extremism, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, 

George Washington University; and Mr. J. Richard Cohen, President, Southern Poverty Law Center. 

On September 8, 2015, the Committee held a field hearing in 

New York City, New York entitled ‘‘Beyond Bin Laden’s Caves and 

Couriers to A New Generation of Terrorists: Confronting the Challenges in a Post 9/11 World.’’ The Committee received testimony 

from Hon. Rudolph ‘‘Rudy’’ W. Giuliani, Former Mayor, City of New 

York, New York; Mr. William J. Bratton, Commissioner, Police Department, City of New York, New York; Mr. Daniel A. Nigro, Commissioner, Fire Department, City of New York, New York; Mr. Lee 

A. Ielpi, President, September 11th Families Association; and 

Mr. Gregory A. Thomas, National President, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. 

On October 21, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled 

‘‘Worldwide Threats and Homeland Security Challenges.’’ The Committee received testimony from Hon. Jeh C. Johnson, Secretary, 

Department of Homeland Security; Hon. Nicholas J. Rasmussen, 

Director, The National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and Hon. James B. Comey, Director, 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. 

On November 18, 2015, the Committee on Homeland Security 

and the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a joint hearing entitled 

‘‘The Rise of Radicalism: Growing Terrorist Sanctuaries and the 

Threat to the U.S. Homeland.’’ The Committees received testimony 

from Hon. Matthew G. Olsen, Co-Founder and President, Business 

Development and Strategy, IronNet Cybersecurity; Gen. John M. 

Keane (Ret. U.S. Army), Chairman of the Board, Institute for the 

Study of War; and Mr. Peter Bergen, Vice President, Director 

International Security and Fellows Programs, New America. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on March 23, 2016, to consider H.R. 4820, 

and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a favorable recommendation, as amended, by voice vote. The Committee 

took the following actions: 

The following amendments were offered: 

An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by 

MR. KATKO (#1); was AGREED TO, without amendment by a recorded vote of 16 yeas and 5 nays (Roll Call Vote No. 19). 


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An amendment by MR. RICHMOND of Louisiana to the Amendment 

in the Nature of a Substitute (#1A); was NOT AGREED TO by a 

recorded vote of 8 yeas and 12 nays (Roll Call Vote No. 18). 

An en bloc amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by MR. THOMPSON of Mississippi (#1B); was NOT 

AGREED TO by voice vote. 

Consisting of the following amendments: 

In section 2(a)(1), insert ‘‘and domestic terrorist organization’’ before ‘‘communications’’. 

In section 2, add at the end a new subsection entitled ‘‘(c) Director of Civil Rights 

and Civil Liberties.’’ 

In section 2, add at the end a new subsection entitled ‘‘(c) Classified Report on 

Sources of Testimonials.’’ 

In section 2, add at the end a new subsection entitled ‘‘(c) Background Investigation.’’ 

In section 2, add at the end a new subsection entitled ‘‘(c) Oversight.’’ 

In section 2, add at the end a new subsection entitled ‘‘(c) Report on Former or 

Estranged Violent Extremists.’’ 

In section 2, add at the end a new subsection entitled ‘‘(c) Definitions.’’ 

At the end of the bill, add a new section entitled ‘‘Sec. 3. GAO Report.’’ 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 

The Committee on Homeland Security considered H.R. 4820 on 

March 23, 2016, and took the following votes: 

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY 

ROLL CALL NO. 18 

H.R. 4820 

On agreeing to the amendment #1A offered by Mr. Richmond of Louisiana. 

Not agreed to: 8 yeas and 12 nays. 

Representative Yea Nay Representative Yea Nay 

Mr. McCaul, 

Chair.

X Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, 

Ranking Member.

X 

Mr. Smith of Texas ........................ Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California 

Mr. King of New York .................... Ms. Jackson Lee ........................... X 

Mr. Rogers of Alabama ................. X Mr. Langevin .................................

Mrs. Miller of Michigan ................. Mr. Higgins ................................... X 

Mr. Duncan of South Carolina ...... Mr. Richmond ............................... X 

Mr. Marino ..................................... Mr. Keating ...................................

Mr. Barletta ................................... Mr. Payne ...................................... X 

Mr. Perry ........................................ X Mr. Vela ........................................ X 

Mr. Clawson of Florida .................. X Mrs. Watson Coleman .................. X 

Mr. Katko ....................................... X Miss Rice ...................................... X 

Mr. Hurd of Texas .......................... X Mrs. Torres .................................... X 

Mr. Carter of Georgia .................... X 

Mr. Walker .....................................


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Representative Yea Nay Representative Yea Nay 

Mr. Loudermilk ............................... X 

Ms. McSally ................................... X 

Mr. Ratcliffe .................................. X 

Mr. Donovan .................................. X 

Vote Total: 8 12 

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY 

ROLL CALL NO. 19 

H.R. 4820 

On agreeing to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute #1 offered by 

Mr. Katko, without amendment. 

Agreed to: 16 yeas and 5 nays. 

Representative Yea Nay Representative Yea Nay 

Mr. McCaul, 

Chair.

X Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, 

Ranking Member.

X 

Mr. Smith of Texas ........................ Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California X 

Mr. King of New York .................... Ms. Jackson Lee ........................... X 

Mr. Rogers of Alabama ................. Mr. Langevin ................................. X 

Mrs. Miller of Michigan ................. Mr. Higgins ................................... X 

Mr. Duncan of South Carolina ...... Mr. Richmond ............................... X 

Mr. Marino ..................................... Mr. Keating ...................................

Mr. Barletta ................................... Mr. Payne ...................................... X 

Mr. Perry ........................................ X Mr. Vela ........................................ X 

Mr. Clawson of Florida .................. X Mrs. Watson Coleman .................. X 

Mr. Katko ....................................... X Miss Rice ...................................... X 

Mr. Hurd of Texas .......................... X Mrs. Torres .................................... X 

Mr. Carter of Georgia .................... X 

Mr. Walker .....................................

Mr. Loudermilk ............................... X 

Ms. McSally ................................... X 

Mr. Ratcliffe .................................. X 

Mr. Donovan .................................. X 

Vote Total: 16 5 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight hearings and 

made findings that are reflected in this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 4820, the 

Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act of 2016, would result in no 


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new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax 

expenditures or revenues. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 was not made available to the Committee in time for 

the filing of this report. The Chairman of the Committee shall 

cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon 

its receipt by the Committee. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 4820 contains the following general performance goals and objectives, including outcome related goals and 

objectives authorized. 

The goal of H.R. 4820 is to require the Department of Homeland 

Security to use the narratives of disaffected extremists to push 

back against terrorist propaganda, such as that produced by groups 

like ISIS. The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, to 

the extent practicable, to incorporate the public testimonials of 

former or estranged violent extremists into DHS efforts to combat 

terrorist recruitment and communications. The Secretary may also 

use the testimonials of friends or family, who may be tied to former 

extremists, to fulfill this requirement. By codifying this activity, 

the Committee aims to bring DHS in line with emerging best-practices used by other government agencies, international partners, 

and nongovernmental organizations to use credible voices to keep 

terrorists from recruiting additional followers and operatives, particularly from within the United States. 

This legislation gives the Secretary maximum flexibility to determine how such testimonials are obtained and disseminated, but 

emphasizes that they must be ‘‘public,’’ which could include pre-existing counter-narratives in news stories, interviews, nongovernmental productions, or other openly available sources. As there is 

already extensive material on this subject in the public domain, the 

bill does not require DHS to create a dedicated program to collect 

new narratives and instead directs that they be incorporated into 

existing DHS efforts. For instance, many individuals who have 

joined groups like ISIS have publicly repudiated the organization, 

contradicted its false narratives, and urged others not to make the 

mistake of enlisting with it. These are the types of messages the 

Committee hopes DHS will help amplify as part of its ongoing efforts to combat terrorist recruitment and communications. The bill 

also does not require DHS to disseminate the narratives under its 

own seal, as the Department may not be viewed as a credible messenger in some communities. Accordingly, the legislation urges the 

Secretary, to the extent practicable, to engage nongovernmental 

and international partners in the identification and use of these 

messages. 


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DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c) of Rule XIII, the Committee finds that 

H.R. 4820 does not contain any provision that establishes or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another Federal program. 

CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED

TARIFF BENEFITS

In compliance with Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the Rule XXI. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman of the 

Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 

resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or 

joint resolution is intended to preempt State, local, or Tribal law, 

the Committee finds that H.R. 4820 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H.R. 4820 would require no directed rule makings. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short Title. 

This section provides that this bill may be cited as the ‘‘Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act of 2016’’. 


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Sec. 2. Directive. 

Subsection (a)—In General. 

This subsection requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, to 

the extent practicable, to incorporate public testimonials from 

former or estranged violent extremists, or their friends or family, 

into DHS efforts to combat terrorist recruitment and communications. 

Subsection (b)—Coordination. 

This subsection requires the Secretary, where appropriate, to coordinate these efforts with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies and, to the extent practicable, engage nongovernmental and international partners in identifying and using 

such testimonials. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

As reported, H.R. 4820 makes no changes to existing law. 


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1http://securitydata.newamerica.net/extrernists/deadly-attacics.html (last visited April 21, 

2016). Domestic Terrorist Attacks—2015 Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting (3 Persons 

killed), 2015 Charleston Church Shooting (9 Persons killed), 2014 Las Vegas Police Ambush (3 

Persons killed), 2014 Kansas Jewish Center Shooting (3 Persons killed), 2014 Blooming Grove 

Police Shooting (1 Person killed), 2012 Tri-State Killing Spree (4 Persons killed), 2012 St. John’s 

Parish Police Ambush (2 Persons killed), 2012 Sikh Temple Shooting (6 Persons killed), 2011 

FEAR Militia (3 Persons killed), 2010 Carlisle, PA Murder (1 Person killed), 2010 Austin, TX 

Plane Attack (1 Person killed), 2009 Pittsburgh Police Shootings (3 Persons killed), 2009 Holocaust Museum Shooting (1 Person killed), 2009 George Tiller Assassination (1 Person killed), 

2009 Flores Murders, Pima County, AZ (2 Persons killed), 2009 Brockton, MA Murders (2 Persons killed), 2008 Knoxville, TN Church Shooting (2 Persons killed), 2004 Tulsa OK, Bank Robbery (1 Person killed). Foreign Terrorist-Inspired Attacks—2015 San Bernardino Shooting (14 

Persons killed), 2015 Chattanooga, TN Military Shooting (5 Persons killed), 2014 Washington 

and New Jersey Killing Spree (4 Persons killed), 2014 Oklahoma Beheading (1 Person killed), 

2013 Boston Marathon Bombing (4 Persons killed), 2009 Little Rock Shooting (1 Person killed), 

2009 Fort Hood Shooting (13 Persons killed), 2006 Seattle Jewish Federation Shooting (1 Person 

killed), 2002 Los Angeles Airport Shooting (2 Persons killed). 2Kurtzman, Charles and David Schanzer, ‘‘Law Enforcement Assessment of the Violent Extremist Threat,’’ June 25, 2015. 

DISSENTING VIEWS

When H.R. 4820 was considered, at the Full Committee markup, 

those of us who opposed the measure did so for the following reason. 

While we do not take issue with the bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security to incorporate ‘‘public testimonials of 

former or estranged violent extremists or their associates’’ into the 

Department’s efforts to combat terrorist recruitment and communications, we do strenuously object to the fact that the bill, as approved by the Full Committee, focuses on only counter-messaging 

‘‘foreign terrorist organization,’’ thereby excluding counter-messaging domestic terrorist organizations. Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, domestic terrorists have 

killed 48 people within the United States and individuals inspired 

by foreign terrorist organizations have killed 45 people within the 

United States.1 According to a recent study by the Police Executive 

Research Forum and the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security found that state and local law enforcement personnel 

are almost twice as worried about right-wing and anti-government 

terrorism as they are about the threat from al-Qaeda types.2

In recognition of the fact that, like foreign terrorist organizations, domestic terror groups recruit and spread propaganda 

through social media and online chat rooms, I, together with likeminded Committee Democrats, made multiple proposals—during 

and after the markup—to remedy this matter. Each proposal was 

rejected. 

Specifically, at the markup, Representative Cedric Richmond offered an amendment to define the term ‘‘violent extremist’’ as an 

individual engaged in ideologically motivated international terrorism or domestic terrorism, as such terms are defined in section 

2331 of title 18, United States Code, and that may include individuals ideologically motivated by white supremacy extremism, militia 

extremism, anarchist extremism, sovereign citizens extremism, ecoVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:51 Apr 28, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6604 E:\HR\OC\HR525.XXX HR525

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3 (1) Advanced White Society; (2) Alternative Right; (3) American Freedom Party; (4) American 

Nationalist Association; (5) American Nationalist Union; (6) American Nazi Party; (7) American 

Renaissance/New Century Foundation; (8) American Vikings; (9) Aryan Nations Knights of the 

Ku Klux Klan; (10) Aryan Nations; (11) Aryan Wear; (12) Barnes Review/Foundation for Economic Liberty, Inc.; (13) Battalion 14; (14) Bob’s Underground Graduate Seminar (BUGS); (15) 

carolynyeager.nek (16) Center for the Advancement of Occidental Culture (CAOC); (17) Christian Defense League; (18) Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (19) Confederate Patriot Voters United; (20) Confederate White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (21) Conservative Citizens 

Foundation, Inc.; (22) Council for Social and Economic Studies; (23) Council of Conservative Citizens; (24) Counter-Currents Publishing; (25) Creativity Movement; (26) Crusader Knights of the 

Ku Klux Klan; (27) Delaware Advanced White Society; (28) Dixie Rangers Knights of the Ku 

Klux Klan; (29) East Coast Knights Of The True Invisible Empire; (30) European American Action Coalition; (31) European American Front; (32) Faith and Heritage; (33) Family Home 

Northwest; (34) Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation; (35) Fort Christmas Knights Ku Klux Klan; (36) 

Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (37) Free America Rally; (38) Free American; 

(39) Free Edgar Steele; (40) Gallows Tree Wotansvolk Alliance; (41) H.L. Mencken Club; (42) 

Heathens Motorcycle Club; (43) Heritage and Destiny; (44) International Keystone Knights of 

the Ku Klan Klan Inc.; (45) Invisible Knights of the Fiery Cross; (46) Kinist Institute; (47) 

Knight Riders Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (48) Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (49) Knights 

Party Veterans League; (50) Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (51) Ku Klux Klan; (52) 

Lone Wolf Brigade Knights—Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (53) Loyal White Knights of the Ku 

Klux Klan; (54) Malevolent Freedom; (55) Maryland National Socialist Party; (56) Middle American News; (57) Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (58) Mystic Knights Of The 

Ku Klux Klan; (59) National Alliance; (60) National Association for the Advancement of America; (61) National Policy Institute; (62) National Socialist Freedom Movement; (63) National Socialist German Workers Party; (64) National Socialist Movement; (65) National Youth Front; 

(66) Nationalist Coalition; (67) Nationalist Movement; (68) New Century Productions—A Conversation About Race; (69) New Empire Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (70) New Order; (71) 

North Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (72) Northwest Front; (73) NS Publications; (74) Occidental Dissent; (75) Occidental Quarterly/Charles Martel Society; (76) Order Of 

The Confederate Brotherhood Knights Of The Ku Klux Klan; (77) Pacifica Forum; (78) Patriotic 

Flags; (79) Pioneer Fund; (80) Pioneer Little Europe; (81) Protestant White Nationalist Party 

of Kentucky/Uncreated Light; (82) Racial Nationalist Party of America; (83) Radix Journal; (84) 

Red October; (85) Revolutionary Order of the Aryan Republic; (86) Sadistic Souls Motorcycle 

Club; (87) Scott-Townsend Publishers; (88) Soldiers Of the Cross Training Institute; (89) South 

Africa Project; (90) Southern European Aryans League Army; (91) Stormfront; (92) The Creativity Alliance; (93) The Daily Stormer; (94) The Forsaken Motorcycle Club; (95) The Political 

Cesspool; (96) The White Voice; (97) Third Reich Books; (98) Traditionalist American Knights 

of the Ku Klux Klan; (99) Traditionalist Youth Network (Indiana University); (100) United 

Klans of America; (101) United Northern and Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (102) 

United White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (103) VDARE Foundation; (104) Voice of Reason 

Broadcast Network; (105) Washington Summit Publishers; (106) Whitakeronline; (107) White 

Advocacy Movement; (108) White Aryan Resistance; (109) White Boy Society; (110) White Camelia Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; (111) White Man’s March; (112) White Rabbit Radio; (113) 

White Student Union of Tarrant County; (114) World View Foundations; (115) WTM Enterprises; (116) Abu Nidal Organization (ANO); (117) Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG); (118) Aum 

Shinrikyo (AUM); (119) Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA); (120) Gama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group) (IG); (121) HAMAS; (122) Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM); (123) Hizballah; (124) 

Kahane Chai (Kach); (125) Kurdistan Workers Party (PICK) (Kongra-Gel); (126) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE); (127) National Liberation Army (ELN); (128) Palestine Liberation 

Front (PLF); (129) Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); (130) Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLF); (131) PFLP-General Command (PFLP–GC); (132) Revolutionary Armed Forces of 

Colombia (FARC); (133) Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C); (134) Shining 

Path (SL); (135) al-Qa’ida (AQ); (136) Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); (137) Real Irish 

Republican Army (RIRA); (138) Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM); (139) Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); (140) 

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB); (141) Asbat al-Ansar (AAA); (142) al-Qaida in the Islamic 

Maghreb (AQIM); (143) Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA); 

(144) Jemaah Islamiya (JI); (145) LashIcar i Jhangvi (LJ); (146) Ansar al-Islam (AAI); (147) 

Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); (148) Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (formerly 

al-Qa’ida in Iraq); (149) Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); (150) Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh 

(HUJI–B); (151) al-Shabaab; (152) Revolutionary Struggle (RS); (153) Kata’ib Hizballah (I(H); 

(154) al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); (155) Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI); (156) 

Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP); (157) Jundallah; (158) Army of Islam (AOI); (159) Indian 

Mujahedeen (IM); (160) Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT); (161) Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB); 

(162) Haqqani Network (HQN); (163) Ansar al-Dine (AAD); (164) Boko Haram; (165) Ansaru; 

(166) al-Mulathamun Battalion; (167) Ansar al-Shari’a in Benghazi; (168) Ansar al-Shari’a in 

Darnah; (169) Ansar al-Shari’a in Tunisia; (170) ISIL Sinai Province (formally Ansar Bayt alMaqdis); (171) al-Nusrah Front; (172) Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem 

(MSC); (173) Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al Naqshabandi (JRTN); (174) ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL–K); and 

(175) Any other foreign or domestic terrorist organization. 

terrorist and animal rights extremism, including the views espoused by 175 domestic and international terrorist organizations.3

The Richmond amendment was rejected. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with HEARING
12 

4https://www.dhs.gov/dhss-approach-countering-violent-extremism (last viewed 4/21/2016). 

Subsequently, I offered an amendment that would have inserted 

‘‘domestic terrorist organization’’ into the measure to bring it in 

line with DHS’s approach to countering violent extremism, which 

is governed by the ‘‘Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent 

Extremism in the United States (National CVE Strategy),’’ which 

was issued in August 2011. The central tenet of the National CVE 

Strategy is that ‘‘[g]roups and individuals inspired by a range of religious, political, or other ideological beliefs have promoted and 

used violence against the Homeland.’’ 4

My amendment, too, was rejected. 

Finally, I would note that, during the markup, there was a 

lengthy discussion with the attorney from the Office of Legislative 

Counsel about how the bill could be broadened if the word ‘‘foreign’’ 

was struck from the bill. Since the Majority, at the conclusion of 

the discussion, did not advance a proposal to strike the word, it is 

patently obvious that the Majority wants the focus of DHS’ efforts 

to be on the propaganda advanced by Islamic State of Iraq and the 

Levant (ISIL) and other foreign terrorist groups and has little interest in DHS integrating public testimonials of former domestic 

militia-member, white supremacists, sovereign citizens, and other 

domestic terrorists into DHS’ efforts to combat terrorist recruitment and communications. For those of us on the Democratic side 

of the aisle that voted against this measure, this represents a 

major weakness in the bill and a major blind-spot regarding the 

terrorist threats this nation faces. 

Importantly, DHS repeatedly communicated to the Committee 

that this legislation is not necessary, as it has the authority to integrate testimonials into its efforts, as appropriate. Therefore, from 

a public policy perspective, there is no need for this legislation to 

advance unless, as those Committee Democrats who voted against 

this measure were left to conclude, the Majority wishes to direct 

DHS to focus its attention on countering ISIL and engaging the 

American Muslim community, to the exclusion of other serious violent extremist threats. 

Terrorist organizations continue to move rapidly in their recruitment of our children, coworkers, and neighbors and we must act to 

counter their efforts. Countering violent extremism should be a top 

priority for this Committee and we have a duty to ensure that Federal efforts to counter violent extremism are focused on domestic 

terrorist and foreign terrorist threats. 

BENNIE G. THOMPSON. 

Æ 


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