Goodlatte Floor Statement on the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Reauthorization Act

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S. 2854). Chairman Goodlatte: “This bill is an important step in continuing to investigate the crimes and terror inflicted on so many involved in the civil rights movement. This bill will help to right those past wrongs and help to find justice for the families who lost loved ones in the civil rights effort. “Specifically, this bill reauthorizes and updates the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act that was passed ten years ago. It responds to concerns that victims’ families and those working in this area have had about the implementation of the original legislation. In doing so, it strengthens the collaboration between the FBI, Department of Justice, and local law enforcement to make sure that the goals of this legislation are met. By providing clearer direction and improved coordination between all the relevant stakeholders, this bill help will ensure that these crimes will be solved and families who lost loved ones will be able to find justice. “This legislation also addresses some of the concerns with the Senate-passed language by making sure that the bill is fully offset, that a sunset provision is included, and by providing greater clarity regarding the collaboration between various stakeholders. “Finally, I want to thank both Ranking Member Conyers and Mr. Lewis, civil rights leaders and icons on these issues, for working with Senator Burr and other stakeholders to reach agreement on this bill, as well as for their tireless work on the underlying legislation.  It is important that the federal government investigates and prosecutes these crimes to the greatest extent possible, and this important legislation will give DOJ the ability and the direction to do just that.”