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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 903 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms that the United States stands united in 
        protecting the First Amendment rights of Free Exercise and Free 
        Speech of all Americans;
            (2) affirms that the United States stands united in 
        condemning violence and intimidation through threat in all 
        forms;
            (3) rejects irresponsible labeling of individuals and 
        groups on the basis of their religious and/or political views 
        as extremists or hate groups, as such labeling itself fuels 
        acts of violence and crime;
            (4) rejects narrow-minded labeling as an attack on the 
        fabric of the society of the United States and the ideals of 
        pluralism and respect;
            (5) condemns any form of religious or viewpoint 
        discrimination, incitement to violence, or ideological 
        targeting based solely upon beliefs;
            (6) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working 
        with State and local officials in an effort to prevent further 
        acts of domestic terrorism occasioned by such labeling, to 
        investigate all credible reports of any persons or 
        organizations labeling hate groups and extremists solely on the 
        basis of religious beliefs or political affiliation;
            (7) encourages the development of an interagency task force 
        led by the Attorney General and bringing together the 
        Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the 
        Department of Education, the Department of State, the Federal 
        Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Director of 
        National Intelligence to collaborate on the development of 
        effective strategies and efforts to deter labeling of hate 
        groups on the sole basis of religious views or political 
        affiliation; and
            (8) calls on the executive branch to enhance security 
        measures and improve preparedness for religious institutions, 
        places of worship, other institutions, elected officials and 
        persons that have been targeted because they have been labeled 
        as a hate group or extremist on the sole basis of their 
        religious views or political affiliation.
                                 <all>
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