Congress Approves Local Lawmaker’s Proposal to
Criminalize Making False Terrorist Threats
WASHINGTON, DC – The 9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act (S. 2845) recently passed by Congress includes provisions that create criminal and civil penalties for falsely reporting chemical, biological or nuclear threats in written or verbal form as well as through physical actions. Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) proposed such a measure when they introduced the Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act of 2003 (H.R. 1678) in April 2003.
When the House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed H.R. 1678 in May 2004, it expanded the bill’s scope to also punish those who target military families of U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq and elsewhere by falsely claiming a loved one’s demise. The 9/11 Commission bill’s provisions expand the scope as well.
“Those who falsely report a terrorist attack not only strike fear in our communities but also dilute law enforcement resources at a significant public monetary cost,” Congressman Schiff said. “I am pleased that Congress has passed these measures to hold these deceivers accountable for their crimes.”
When advocating for H.R 1678’s passage, Congressman Schiff often highlighted the incident in Los Angeles when a man who wanted to avoid appearing in bankruptcy court that day phoned in an anthrax threat. His false threat succeeded in shutting down the courthouse, costing taxpayers at least $600,000.
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.
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