Expand All Collapse All Extent 30 folders, approximately 1,282 pages Summary This collection consists of records related to the National Church Arson Task Force. It contains the White House Counsel's Office files of Dawn Chirwa, Stephen Neuwirth and Kathleen Wallman that address such topics as the Establishment Clause of the Constitution in regards to funding the rebuilding of burned churches and the Posse Comitatus Act in regards to the possible use of National Guard troops in protecting vulnerable properties. Scope and Content Note The materials in FOIA 2015-0532-F (Segment 2) are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. See also 2015-0532-F seg 1. In early 1996, federal officials detected a sharp rise in the number of reported arson attacks on the nation’s houses of worship, especially African-American churches in the South. This trend troubled law enforcement agencies and stirred the Nation’s conscience. In June 1996, President Clinton formed the National Church Arson Task Force (NCATF), making the investigation of these fires and the swift prosecution of the arsonists a top priority. The President charged the NCATF with a three prong strategy: 1) identify and prosecute the arsonists; 2) help communities rebuild the burned churches; and 3) offer local law enforcement assistance in preventing more fires. The NCATF in its four years of operation (1996-2000) investigated 827 cases of arson, bombing or other attacks on houses of worship throughout the country. The U.S. Congress responded to the rise in Church arson attacks with the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 which granted federal prosecutors greater power in pursuing burnings and desecrations at houses of worship. Materials responsive to this FOIA request include White House Counsel’s Office files of Dawn Chirwa, Stephen Neuwirth and Kathleen Wallman, and deal with such topics as the Establishment Clause of the Constitution in regards to funding the rebuilding of burned churches and the Posse Comitatus Act in regards to the possible use of National Guard troops in protecting vulnerable properties. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in this collection area—Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. Access Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22, as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions. Copyright Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (17 U.S.C. Chapter 1) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Provenance Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA). Processed by Staff Archivist, 2016. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2016-08-24 Container List "The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2015-0532-F Segment 2: Box 1 Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files Counsel’s Office Dawn Chirwa Church Fires: Black Church Arson [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Correspondence [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Department of Justice / Treasury Action [1] [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Department of Justice / Treasury Action [2] [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Housing and Urban Development Programs [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Legislation [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Miscellaneous [Memoranda] [OA/ID CF 1661] Church Fires: Presidential Action [OA/ID CF 1661] Stephen Neuwirth Church Burnings [OA/ID CF 379] Kathleen Wallman Church Burnings [1] [OA/ID CF 847] Box 2 Church Burnings [2] [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2 [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Angell Memorandum [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Attendees [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: [Church Threat Assessment Guide] [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Department of Justice and Treasury Backgrounder [5 pages] [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Department of Justice Remarks Summary [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Event Agenda [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Fact Sheets [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Housing and Urban Development Legislation [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Kennedy Bill (Hyde, Conyers, etc.) [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Legislative Summaries [OA/ID CF 847] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued) Counsel’s Office Kathleen Wallman Church Burnings – Volume 2: Meeting Agendas [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Memoranda [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: National Guard [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: POTUS Speech [OA/ID CF 847 Church Burnings – Volume 2: Prevention Initiatives [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Private Sector Proposal [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Treasury Remarks Summary [OA/ID CF 847] Church Burnings – Volume 2: Treasury Talking Points [OA/ID CF 847]"