[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, AND JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 5, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4276) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes:

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of my good 
friend and colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink's amendment. Her 
amendment increases funding for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights by 
$2.26 million, the amount requested in the President's budget.
  As my colleagues know, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an 
independent, bipartisan agency established to monitor, investigate, and 
report on the status of civil rights protections in the United States. 
In recent years we have experienced a disturbing trend of increased 
hate crimes, racial violence, discrimination against the immigrant 
population, and an intolerance for those who are perceived as 
``different'' because of their color, national origin, gender, 
religion, or disability.
  Now is the time to invest in a modest increase in the U.S. Commission 
on Civil Rights. It is important that we assess the current trends 
which violate the civil rights of groups and individuals in this 
Nation. I urge my colleagues to support the Mink amendment to H.R. 
4276.

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