Providing for Consideration of H.R. Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act; and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

Date: May 18, 2022
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from New York for yielding.

The rise of racially motivated violent extremism is a serious threat to Americans across the country. We, in Congress, can't stop the likes of Tucker Carlson from spewing hateful, dangerous replacement theory ideology across the airwaves. Congress hasn't been able to ban the sale of assault weapons. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act is what Congress can do this week to try to prevent future Buffalo shootings, prevent future California shootings, future El Paso shootings, future Charleston shootings, future Pittsburgh shootings, or future Wisconsin shootings.

We need to ensure that Federal law enforcement has the resources they need to best preemptively identify and thwart extremist violence wherever that threat appears.

In 2020, this House passed the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act on a voice vote with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. I thank my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, who saw the benefit of this legislation and sent it to the Senate. It didn't get a vote in the Senate in 2020, which is why we are here today. I am grateful that this legislation is being brought forward today in this moment.

To those who are considering voting against this bill, I ask them the following:

What has happened in the 2 years since that they no longer support this legislation?

What has changed that they no longer support giving the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security, the resources they need to keep Americans safe, to make sure kids in their schools don't fear the threat of terrorism, that people shopping in a grocery store, going about their business, don't have to worry about someone coming in and killing them simply because of the color of their skin.

What has changed in 2 years that after sending this to the Senate on a voice vote, without any opposition from Republicans, today, we are not there?

Following the vote in 2020, we introduced this bill on January 19, 2021; three Democrats, three Republicans leading that with me. It was bipartisan. We have added nearly 200 Democrats to the list, and the Republicans stand silently by. The only thing that has changed in 2 years is that the risk of violence, the risk of domestic terror has gone up.

Madam Speaker, I am calling on my colleagues, I am pleading with my colleagues, join us in this legislation. Let's join together and send a message that we stand with Federal law enforcement, we stand with American communities, and we stand against domestic terrorism.

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