{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-kilmer-kustoff-pass-bill-to-protect-religious-institutions", "Reps. Kilmer, Kustoff Pass Bill to Protect Religious Institutions", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Derek Kilmer", "K000381", "kilmer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.11.17\n\t\t\t Reps. Kilmer, Kustoff Pass Bill to Protect Religious Institutions \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and\u00a0David Kustoff (R-TN) today applauded House passage of their bill, the\u00a0Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017.\u00a0This strong\u00a0bipartisan legislation will increase the federal penalties for bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against religious institutions.\r\nCongressman Derek Kilmer (D-WA):\u00a0\u201cAcross our country, too many people have been subjected to hate, violence and threats because of the religion they practice. People who have come to a religious community center to take a class, exercise or support their neighbors have faced bomb threats and violence.\u00a0With this bill, our government is saying with one voice: \u2018Enough is enough.\u2019\u201d\r\nCongressman David Kustoff (R-TN):\u00a0\u201cThe dramatic rise in threats against religious institutions is deeply disturbing and makes it clear that existing federal laws do not suitably deter these acts of hate. We must stand united against acts of hate and protect the rights of all Americans to worship freely and without fear. I am proud that our bipartisan bill today passed in the House. I look forward to the Senate\u2019s consideration, so we can send this important legislation to President Trump\u2019s desk.\u201d\r\nJudiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA):\u00a0\u201cFreedom in the exercise of religion is a fundamental right that our founding fathers chose to place as the first recognized right in our Bill of Rights.\u00a0It is as important to protect these rights today.\u00a0 Sadly, we have witnessed many threats and acts of violence against religious institutions and centers and we must ensure our laws appropriately punish those seeking to intimidate people of faith.\u00a0The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act strengthens prosecutorial tools to deter acts of hate and violence toward religious institutions so that freedom of religion continues to flourish in America. I thank Congressman Kustoff for his hard work on this bipartisan bill and applaud the House for quickly passing it.\u201d\r\nWilliam Daroff, the Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office of the Jewish Federations of North America said: \u201cThe Jewish Federations of North America applauds Congress for passing the Combating Anti-Semitism Act of 2017 (H.R. 1730). The rise of anti-Semitism is an existential threat to the Jewish community and this trend is not abating. We are grateful to Representatives David Kustoff and Derek Kilmer for their bi-partisan leadership in sponsoring this legislation, which will help to deter the wave of threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and other religious institutions across the country, and to stand united against religious intolerance.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\r\nIn 2017 alone, more than\u00a0160 bomb threats and other threats of violence have been made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) across America.\u00a0In addition to the fear and terror inflicted upon these religious institutions after a threat, there are tangible ramifications for the centers. Many places of worship are forced to temporarily close their doors as a result of these threats, and families who rely on the center\u2019s services, such as school and early-childhood education programs, have been forced to choose between their safety and their faith community.\u00a0\r\nThis bipartisan legislation would amend the Church Arson Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. \u00a7 247) to ensure that individuals who make bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against community religious centers \u2013based on the religious nature of that center will now carry a penalty of up to 3 years of imprisonment if any violations of the statute results in the damage or destruction to religious property.\r\nThe Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017 has broad, bipartisan support and was originally co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA).\u00a0The bill was\u00a0cosponsored\u00a0by an additional 40 bipartisan members.\u00a0\r\nClick\u00a0here\u00a0for bill text. \n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-kilmer-kustoff-pass-bill-to-protect-religious-institutions"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.460948958992958, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}