On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at preventing domestic terrorism and combating the threat of violent extremism by White supremacists despite a unified Republican opposition.
The legislation, titled Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, passed 222-203, according to CNN. All the “No” votes were Republicans.
The development comes days after a self-professed white supremacist opened fire at a supermarket in a predominately Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 people and injuring many others.
As noted by CNN, “the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act would set up offices specifically focused on domestic terrorism at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the FBI. The offices would track and analyze domestic terrorist activity with the goal of better preparing the federal government to identify risks in order to take preventative action.”
The bill also calls for assessments of the threat posed specifically by White supremacists and neo-Nazis. It will next go to the Senate for consideration, where its fate is uncertain because it would require 60 votes to pass.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Wednesday that he plans to take procedural steps to force a vote on the bill next week.
Read it on CNN.
