Response of Martha McSally (R-Ariz.)

“Hate crimes are definitely on the rise across the country and we all have a moral obligation to condemn and combat white supremacist ideology, including Congress. We must do more — in the past few weeks I’ve been working on potential legislation that would make acts of domestic terror a specific federal crime and create stiff federal penalties. Following the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania earlier this year, I joined Senator Martin Heinrich in introducing legislation that would allow the Department of Homeland Security to provide state and local law enforcement with adequate resources to protect faith-based community centers and houses of worship across the United States. Americans have a right to have the freedom to worship, study, go out with their families, shop and live their lives safely. We must all come together to stop this hate-filled violence and ideology in our communities.”