Chairman Cleaver Holds Hearing On Domestic Terror Threats

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy, held a subcommittee hearing entitled "A Persistent and Evolving Threat: An Examination of the Financing of Domestic Terrorism and Extremism."

"According to the FBI, domestic terrorism continues to trend upward in recent years, with 2019 seeing the highest number of mass killings in U.S. history," said Congressman Cleaver. "This hearing gave lawmakers an opportunity to better understand how terror groups and individuals finance their dastardly deeds and what Congress can do to cut off the illicit financing of terroristic activities. I'm hopeful we can take the data provided and the various policies discussed to create a comprehensive approach that will enable law enforcement to do their jobs and protect the American people."

The hearing was called by Chairman Cleaver to examine domestic terrorism; how financial institutions and law enforcement officials track the financing of domestic terror groups and individual terrorists; the challenges posed in achieving a more robust financial tracking regime; and the models and approaches that might be useful to countering domestic terrorist financing. Congressman Cleaver understands that most domestic terror plots start with funding for a nefarious scheme, and that working with law enforcement and giving them the tools needed to combat illicit financing is critical to reducing the threat.

You can find video of the hearing here and Chairman Cleaver's opening statement below.

"'Domestic terrorists pose a persistent and evolving threat of violence and economic harm to the United States'

Those words are not my own. That was the framing by senior leaders within the FBI on the state of our country when appearing before Congress in June. The rate, pace and lethality of domestic terrorist attacks have only grown more devastating since this testimony was delivered.

- July, at California's Gilroy Garlic Festival four people were killed and 17 were injured

- August, in El Paso Texas 22 people were killed and 24 were injured

- December, in Jersey City, New Jersey, as one of our witnesses is most painfully aware, six people were killed including one police officer.

2019 saw the highest number of mass killings recorded to date: 211 killed in 41 incidents, according to data compiled by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University. Acts of domestic terror were the driving force behind these numbers. This hearing presents us the unique opportunity to look past the politics that surround this issue to explore how we can confront and overcome this crisis.

How may we most effectively "follow the money" to disrupt the financing of these crimes?

How can we enable law enforcement and the financial services institutions to counter domestic terror financing?

Congresswoman Wexton has a bill before us today, HR 5132, that requires the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to issue an advisory to financial institutions about how lone actors and other domestic terrorists procure firearms. Congressman Gottheimer has a bill that would freeze the assets of suspected terrorists and those that support for terrorism. The bill would also create a clearinghouse for incidents of terrorists to be used to assist law enforcement as they try to "follow the money. There is also a bill calling for the Government Accountability Office to study funding of domestic terrorism. The Wall Street Journal Reported in 2018 that Banks and credit-card companies were discussing ways to identify purchases of guns in their payment systems as a means of directly confronting the issue of mass killings.

We must have a robust conversation on all the contours of this issue—including guns. I would remind everyone of the sensitivity surrounding this issue. There is a man today serving a ten-year federal prison term in Leavenworth Penitentiary for having tried to firebomb my district office. Our Chairwoman had two bombs mailed to her. Our House Minority Whip was shot and carries the wounds of that violence with him today. I implore witnesses and members to exercise thoughtfulness as we explore this issue.

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo is available here.