Friend,

There’s no denying it: we are facing a real and rising threat from domestic terrorism, much of it driven by extreme, white nationalist ideology. Most recently in El Paso, but also in previous attacks in Pittsburgh, Charleston, and elsewhere, a common thread of homegrown hatred is spurring violence. In the days since the horrific attack in El Paso, a man was arrested after threatening to attack a Jewish community center in Ohio, and he was heavily armed. This is not something we can ignore.

Nor can we ignore the ugly fact that the ideology expressed by these attackers has been given a boost by comments of the President of the United States. When President Trump spreads fears of an “invasion” by migrants and asylum seekers, and those same words are echoed by an attacker who drove to a border city to kill Hispanics, that’s not something we can just ignore.

Congress has to respond to the rising tide of hate and domestic terrorism, because we already know the president won’t. The FBI Director made clear in recent testimony that domestic terrorism is an issue that makes up an increasing proportion of the FBI’s investigations, and one that he is deeply concerned about. I agree.

That’s why last week I introduced a new bill I want to tell you about. It’s called the Confronting the Threat of Domestic Terrorism Act, and for the first time it would create a criminal statute specifically for violent, terrorist attacks that doesn’t require a connection to an international terrorist organization. A law like this is crucial, because it would give the FBI and prosecutors a new tool to target domestic terrorism in a systemic fashion, and direct more resources where they’re needed. It would also send a powerful message that we’re as serious about confronting terrorism when it comes from homegrown extremists as we are when it comes from abroad.

Because I’m mindful of the dangers that this law, or any other, could be abused or misused, my bill does not provide for the designation of particular groups as a domestic terror organization, and includes a variety of protections to help make sure it’s focused on violent, terrorist acts, not on peaceful groups or protestors.

This bill by itself won’t solve the problem, and we have to act on everything from new gun violence legislation to better tracking and reporting of hate crimes as well. But I believe that part of our job in Congress, particularly with the failure of leadership in the Oval Office, is to stand up for our values and to stand against racism and anti-semitism. Domestic terrorists, and particularly those who subscribe to a violent, white nationalist ideology, are now as great a threat to public safety in our country as international terrorist groups like ISIS, and it’s time for our laws to catch up.

That’s why I’m asking, will you sign on as a citizen cosponsor of my bill if you agree it’s time we treat white nationalist terrorism as the threat it is? Click here to add your name.

Thanks for all you do,

Adam