January 19, 2021

Correa Joins House Leaders In Introducing Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA)

Bipartisan & Bicameral Bill Will Strengthen Law Enforcement Efforts to Prevent, Report On, Respond To, & Investigate Acts of Domestic Terrorism

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) joined Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and their colleagues to introduce the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA) of 2021.

Last Congress, Congressman Correa joined his House Judiciary Committee colleagues in passing DTPA out of committee by a vote of 24-2. The bill also passed the House by a two-thirds voice vote. In the Senate, Senator Durbin brought the bill on the Senate floor, only to be blocked by Senator Ron Johnson. 

Rep. Lou Correa said, "After 911, our government correctly took bold steps to defend American lives against foreign terrorism, and prevent another attack against our nation. Yet, during this time, we overlooked the ever-growing threat homegrown domestic terrorists posed to American lives.

"As the legislative branch of our federal government, we have a duty to support the efforts of our public safety, police, and national security agencies. This legislation gives out nation's defenders the tools they need to find, arrest, and prosecute individuals in our society intent on harming their fellow Americans." 

“Following the terrifying attack on the Capitol this month, which left five dead and many injured, the entire nation has been seized by the potential threat of more terrorist attacks in Washington and around the country. Unlike after 9/11, the threat that reared its ugly head on January 6th is from domestic terror groups and extremists, often racially-motivated violent individuals. America must be vigilant to combat those radicalized to violence, and the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act gives our government the tools to identify, monitor, and thwart their illegal activities. Combatting the threat of domestic terrorism and white supremacy is not a Democratic or Republican issue, not left versus right or urban versus rural. Domestic Terrorism is an American issue, a serious threat that we can and must address together,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10). 

“I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, which we need now more than ever.  In the wake of the domestic terrorist attack on our Capitol two weeks ago, it is painfully clear that the current approach to addressing the real and persistent threat posed by white nationalism and similar ideologies is not working.   We must not allow hate crimes and domestic terrorism to continue unchecked.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this important and timely bill as quickly as possible,” said Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10).

“Walking through the Capitol today, you can still see the marks of the devastating attack on our democracy that occurred on January 6th. Representative Schneider and I first introduced the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act in 2017 to combat the threat of violent white supremacists and other domestic terrorists, and today we are urging our colleagues to join us in passing this critical piece of legislation. After the attack on our Capitol, I hope that Congress can finally come together and do something to address domestic terrorism in America as quickly as possible,” said Senator Durbin (D-IL).

BACKGROUND: The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021 would strengthen the federal government’s efforts to prevent, report on, respond to, and investigate acts of domestic terrorism by authorizing offices dedicated to combating this threat; requiring these offices to regularly assess this threat; and providing training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement in addressing it.

DTPA would authorize three offices, one each within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to monitor, investigate, and prosecute cases of domestic terrorism. The bill also requires these offices to provide Congress with joint biannual reports assessing the state of domestic terrorism threats, with a specific focus on white supremacists. Based on the data collected, DTPA requires these offices to focus their resources on the most significant threats. 

DTPA also codifies the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, which would coordinate with United States Attorneys and other public safety officials to promote information sharing and ensure an effective, responsive, and organized joint effort to combat domestic terrorism. The legislation requires DOJ, FBI, and DHS to provide training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in understanding, detecting, deterring, and investigating acts of domestic terrorism and white supremacy. Finally, DTPA directs DHS, DOJ, FBI, and the Department of Defense to establish an interagency task force to combat white supremacist infiltration of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement.

The legislation is nearly identical to the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020, which was endorsed by a broad coalition, including the Anti-Defamation League, Arab American Institute, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism, Human Rights Campaign, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Muslim Advocates, NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Sikh Coalition, Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, and Unidos.

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Rep. Lou Correa represents California’s 46th Congressional District. He serves as Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, and as the Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. Read more here.