Bob Filner: “today my colleague the gentlewoman from Georgia, Cynthia McKinney, and I rise in defense of our Nation's sacred houses…”

“today my colleague the gentlewoman from Georgia, Cynthia McKinney, and I rise in defense of our Nation's sacred houses of worship by introducing H.R. 3830, the Church Insurance Protection Act of 1996. Our legislation will prohibit insurance companies from canceling, overpricing or refusing to renew fire insurance policies for any house of worship due to the current threat of arson. We are currently joined in our efforts by over 20 of our colleagues, and we are confident that this number will grow as more become familiar with the need for this important legislation. We cannot allow the insurer's fear of a claim to remove a congregation's ability to adequately protect its house of worship and support buildings. Our churches must be held harmless and not subject to punitive measures from insurance companies. Last month in a rare unanimous vote this House approved H.R. 3525, the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, to deter the epidemic assault on our Nation's houses of worship. It was our obligation to deter the flames of bigotry and ignorance that set these churches ablaze. We could do no less. Thankfully, few churches have been lost in the weeks since we passed this legislation. However, our work is not complete. America's churches are facing another threat, the loss of insurance coverage.”