IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 903 

Protecting 1st Amendment Rights of Free Speech and Free Exercise while 

condemning any form of criminal behavior, threats or violence. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 17, 2018 

Mr. BRAT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Protecting 1st Amendment Rights of Free Speech and Free 

Exercise while condemning any form of criminal behavior, threats or violence. 

Whereas in the past several years, violent crimes, threats of 

violence, and other incidents of targeting on the basis of 

religious beliefs or political opinions have occurred within 

the United States; 

Whereas, politically motivated organizations have fueled this 

hate by labeling persons and groups advocating policies 

based upon Judeo-Christian principles as ‘‘hate groups’’ 

and ‘‘extremists’’; 

Whereas, the labeling of certain religious and political viewpoints as hate groups or extremists has served to further 

fuel hatred and violence, rather than curb it; 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 903 IH 

Whereas, this type of labeling has further validated the violent and aggressive attacks by those holding alternative 

views, and such attacks have occasioned the forced silencing of free speech on college campuses and at public 

events and rallies; and 

Whereas, the rights of free exercise of religion and freedom 

of speech are two of the greatest rights possessed by 

American citizens, and they are to be vigilantly preserved: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) affirms that the United States stands 

3 united in protecting the First Amendment rights of 

4 Free Exercise and Free Speech of all Americans; 

5 (2) affirms that the United States stands 

6 united in condemning violence and intimidation 

7 through threat in all forms; 

8 (3) rejects irresponsible labeling of individuals 

9 and groups on the basis of their religious and/or po10 litical views as extremists or hate groups, as such la11 beling itself fuels acts of violence and crime; 

12 (4) rejects narrow-minded labeling as an attack 

13 on the fabric of the society of the United States and 

14 the ideals of pluralism and respect; 

15 (5) condemns any form of religious or viewpoint 

16 discrimination, incitement to violence, or ideological 

17 targeting based solely upon beliefs; 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 903 IH 

1 (6) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, 

2 working with State and local officials in an effort to 

3 prevent further acts of domestic terrorism occa4 sioned by such labeling, to investigate all credible re5 ports of any persons or organizations labeling hate 

6 groups and extremists solely on the basis of religious 

7 beliefs or political affiliation; 

8 (7) encourages the development of an inter9 agency task force led by the Attorney General and 

10 bringing together the Department of Justice, the 

11 Department of Homeland Security, the Department 

12 of Education, the Department of State, the Federal 

13 Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Direc14 tor of National Intelligence to collaborate on the de15 velopment of effective strategies and efforts to deter 

16 labeling of hate groups on the sole basis of religious 

17 views or political affiliation; and 

18 (8) calls on the executive branch to enhance se19 curity measures and improve preparedness for reli20 gious institutions, places of worship, other institu21 tions, elected officials and persons that have been 

22 targeted because they have been labeled as a hate 

23 group or extremist on the sole basis of their religious 

24 views or political affiliation. 

Æ 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS