house Resolution No.8

Rep. Anthony offered the following resolution:

A resolution to urge Congress to enact legislation to classify domestic terrorism as a federal crime to provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security with more tools to combat these types of crimes.

Whereas, According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), domestic terrorism is a persistent threat perpetrated by individuals or groups advocating extremist ideologies of political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature. The FBI has about 850 open domestic terrorism investigations involving anti-government, anti-authority, or racially motivated violent extremism. These open cases and the January 6, 2021 attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election in Washington, D.C. demonstrate the need for such legislation; and

Whereas, Federal law provides serious penalties for those convicted of acts of international terrorism. Additionally, individuals with plans to back an international terrorism group can be charged with providing criminal support under federal law; and

Whereas, Federal law defines domestic terrorism as "activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States…" and among other things, are "intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population…". However, there is no federal law prohibiting acts of domestic terrorism nor are there penalties associated with these acts. There is no federal charge for people providing material support to domestic terror organizations. Americans charged with stockpiling weapons and plotting mass attacks often face lesser firearms offenses; and

Whereas, Law enforcement has additional tools under terrorism charges to widen the scope of investigations, potentially implicating additional suspects and providing greater penalties for those who perform such atrocities. Enacting a federal domestic terrorism law will funnel additional resources to the FBI allowing it to gather data and track situations involving domestic extremism; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge Congress to enact legislation to classify domestic terrorism as a federal crime to provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security with more tools to combat these types of crimes; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.