Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

Floor Speech

VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - October 23, 2007)

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Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorist Prevention Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative HARMAN. This important legislation recognizes the threat of homegrown terrorism and seeks to address this burgeoning problem while maintaining the civil rights and liberties of American citizens.

Since May of this year, two separate plots against strategic American targets have been foiled and prevented by American officials. What distinguishes them from previous terrorist plots against the United States is that the potential terrorists here have no contact with nor support from Al-Qaeda or any other overseas terrorist cells. America must be unique in its approach to homegrown terrorism, given the civil rights and civil liberties protections that are unique to America and enjoyed by all American citizens.

As a senior Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure, I believe we can secure our homeland and remain true to our values simultaneously. The Muslim American community has grown in size and prominence, and is an integral part of the fabric of this Nation. Muslim Americans share the same values and ideals that make this Nation great. Ideals such as discipline, generosity, peace and moderation.

Many years of civil rights jurisprudence and law have been ignored and thrown out the window when the racial profiling, harassment, and discrimination of Muslim and Arab Americans is permitted to occur with impunity. These practices show a reckless and utter disregard for the fundamental values on which our country is founded: namely, due process, the presumption of innocence, nondiscrimination, individualized rather than group suspicion, and equitable application of the law. We cannot allow xenophobia, prejudice, and bigotry to prevail, and eviscerate the Constitution we are bound to protect.

The securing of our homeland and protection of our national security is on the forefront of my agenda. However, using 9/11 as an impetus to engage in racial profiling, harassment, and discrimination of Muslim and Arab Americans is not only deplorable, it undermines our civil liberties and impedes our success in the global war on terror. We must fight our war on terror without compromising our freedoms and liberties.

It is precisely for these reasons that I so strongly support H.R. 1955. This Act calls for the creation of the National Commission to examine the various causes of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in order to propose concrete and meaningful recommendations and legislative strategies in order to alleviate these threats. It also establishes a Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Radicalization and Home Grown Terrorism that will study the social, criminal, political, psychological and economic roots of the problem as well as provide homeland security officials across the government with suggestions for preventing radicalization and homegrown terrorism. Furthermore, it requires our homeland security officials to thoroughly examine the experiences of other nations that have experienced homegrown terrorism so that our government might learn from those experiences. As such, H.R. 1955 does more than merely address the current situation with regard to homegrown terrorism but also works to identify the causes behind the problem and address them as well.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

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