Peter Visclosky: “I want to draw particular attention to one provision of the bill that I strongly support, and that is the inclusion of…”

“I want to draw particular attention to one provision of the bill that I strongly support, and that is the inclusion of $24 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to expand their ongoing investigation of the recent wave of church burnings occurring across the United States. Since January of last year, 36 African-American churches have been burned to the ground by arsons. These burnings have destroyed important sources of American history and left small rural communities gripped by an epidemic of terror and fear unknown since the days when marauding Klansmen destroyed lives and property at will. I am saddened to witness a climate in which many of America's most sacred institutions can be subjected to such abuse. Currently an estimated 1,000 Federal and State investigators are involved in the ongoing investigations, and ATF alone is spending more than $1 million a month for these investigations. I applaud Chairman Lightfoot for the leadership he has shown in his decision to include $24 million for ATF to expend in their investigations of these arsons.”