[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10928-H10935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING MURDER OF MATTHEW SHEPARD
Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 597) expressing the sense of the House with respect
to the brutal killing of Mr. Matthew Shepard.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 597
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House that--
(1) Mr. Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the
University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, was physically
beaten and tortured, tied to a wooden fence and left for
dead;
(2) Mr. Matthew Shepard died as a result of his injuries on
October 12, 1998, in a Colorado hospital surrounded by his
loving family and friends; and
(3) the House--
(A) condemns the actions which occurred in Laramie,
Wyoming, as unacceptable and outrageous;
(B) urges each Member of Congress and every citizen of the
United States, in his or her own way, through his or her
church, synagogue, mosque, workplace, or social organization,
to join in denouncing and encouraging others to denounce this
outrageous murder of another human being;
(C) pledges to join in efforts to bring an end to such
crimes, and to encourage all Americans to dedicate themselves
to ending violence in the United States; and
(D) pledges to do everything in its power to fight the sort
of prejudice and intolerance that leads to the murder of
innocent people.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms.
DeGette) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).
[[Page H10929]]
General Leave
Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin), and I ask unanimous consent that
she be permitted to control the time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) is
recognized.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
It is with sadness that I bring this to the floor of the House today,
Mr. Speaker. In the wake of the tragic death of Matthew Shepard, my
husband Fritz and I, along with our sons, Bill and Eric, who knew
Matthew, join the people of Wyoming in offering our most heartfelt
sympathy to Matthew's parents, his family, and his friends. Our
thoughts and prayers are with all of them. There is no greater loss
than that of a son or a daughter. However, we can take solace in
knowing that Matthew's kind and gentle spirit will be a legacy that
stays with those who were fortunate enough to know him.
The resolution the House is considering today condemns in the
strongest possible way the brutal killing of Matthew Shepard. No attack
of this kind can ever be forgotten.
{time} 1100
No attack of this kind can ever be excused and no attack of this kind
can ever go unpunished. It is my hope, and the hope of the caring
people of Wyoming and the people throughout our country, that swift and
judicious punishment will fall upon those who committed this heinous
act.
Our country must come together to condemn these types of brutal,
nonsensical acts of violence. We cannot lie down. We cannot bury our
heads. And we cannot sit on our hands. Though our actions, we must be
deliberative and our actions must also at the very same time send a
strong and ardent message to those who are intolerant of others. We
will not stand for the arbitrary killing of others due to any hateful
act of intolerance.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be joined today in offering this
resolution by the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, those of us in the West believe that we have a special
caring for individual liberties and individual expressions and that we
care about this more than anybody else. That is why the tragic murder
of Matthew Shepard has shaken all of us in the West so to our core.
I want to thank and commend the distinguished gentlewoman from
Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) for swiftly acting to denounce the deplorable
actions of Matthew Shepard's murderers. I know that all of our thoughts
and prayers in the House of Representatives and in Washington in
general go out to the Shepard family and to Matthew's friends during
this very difficult time.
The United States has come a long way in combating the prejudice and
discrimination that is such a tragic part of our history. But what
happened last Friday night at a ranch in Wyoming shows we still have
work to do before our country is truly the country of freedom and
justice for all.
Something like this could occur anywhere. Gay men and lesbians all
across the country live in fear that some tragic and brutal crime like
this will happen to them. And when an appalling crime like this
happens, it proves that this fear is not unjustified. Sometimes it
takes a tragic and brutal crime like this to point out that every day
in cities across our country, gay men and lesbians are being beaten and
brutalized simply because of their sexual orientation.
I want to share an example of this that is even sadder. As Matthew
Shepard lay dying in a Colorado hospital in Fort Collins, a nearby
State university was holding its annual homecoming parade. And on one
of the floats in that parade, someone actually stuck a scarecrow that
was covered with anti-gay graffiti. Mr. Speaker, even if Matthew
Shepard had not been left beaten and hanging on a fence the night
before, this incident, and the countless incidents that happen
throughout this country, are unacceptable.
There is still much education that needs to be done. Discrimination
of any kind is abhorrent. And this horrible incident illustrates once
again that prejudice is a terrible thing, no matter who the target is.
Everyone in this country deserves to pursue the American dream and
that includes gay men and lesbians. Individual freedom and liberty are
what makes this country like no other, and we owe it to ourselves and
we owe it to our country to refuse to accept bias of any kind. For
those who would stand in the way of an individual's right to live as
they see fit, I say, and I hope my colleagues will join me, ``There is
no room in this country for your kind of bigotry.''
Mr. Speaker, that is why we must act swiftly and strongly at the
Federal level, at the State level, at the local level, and every level
of government to pass strong hate crimes legislation saying this is not
the way we operate in this country.
I urge people from all walks of life, all political parties, all
genders, straight and gay, to speak out against this horrible crime.
Those of us who seek equality and justice far outnumber those who are
gripped by fear and intolerance. We must make our voices drown out
their voices.
Mr. Speaker, we will not be held hostage to individuals who act on
the basest and most animal of instincts. We will continue the fight
against hatred. We will continue to resist violence.
Last night at the vigil, Matthew's friend said that Matthew always
wanted to make his life mean something, that he always wanted to have
an impact on society. I pledge that we will do everything to see that
happen. But Matthew's friend also said: The price here was too great.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Payne).
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from
Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. DeGette)
for bringing this resolution to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to also express my condolences to the
Shepard family, and to say that I commend my colleagues who last night
participated in the vigil where Senator Kennedy and the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) and others spoke out about this tragic act.
I think that it is clear with an act like this, that no one is free
until everyone is free. And in many instances when we have talked about
hate crimes as African-Americans, we have talked about the fact that
lynchings went on in this country; that even less than a year ago a
black man walking home was tied to the back of a truck and drug for
miles until his body was decapitated and he of course died with this
brutal treatment. Many people said it was too bad, many did not
comment, and it passed by.
But once again I repeat that no one is free until everyone is free.
Who would have ever dreamed that in the middle of Wyoming, a place that
is talked about with its tranquility and rugged individualism, would
turn to one of the most heinous crimes that we have seen anywhere in
this Nation.
So I think that we have to rededicate ourselves to taking a look at
us and where we stand. The President this year had a commission on race
to talk about and have a dialogue about where race stands in this
country. I think that we need to have a dialogue about many issues.
About immigrant bashing, about gay bashing, about anyone who seems
different.
Mr. Speaker, that is why we have the first amendment. People who are
different can speak up. The first amendment was not passed for everyone
who thinks alike, because we would not need the amendment. I think we
need to rededicate ourselves to wiping out hate crimes.
[[Page H10930]]
Even in my State of New Jersey there has been an increase in the
number of hate crimes. So I commend my colleagues who brought this
resolution and ask that it be passed unanimously.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we should not turn Matthew into a martyr, and his family
has asked that we do not turn Matthew into a martyr. He would not want
that and his family does not want that.
Out of respect for Matthew, this resolution is not about advancing
legislation. It is about advancing our tolerance in others, regardless
of their gender, race, or sexual orientation.
At the end of his life, the defining element of Matthew's life should
not be his sexuality. It should be the kind, gentle, intelligent,
wonderful person that Matthew was. That is how Matthew should be
remembered. That is what his family wants, and that certainly is what I
wish for them today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sadly offer my condolences
to the family and the friends of Matthew Shepard. I deeply thank my
colleagues, the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) and the
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) for introducing this resolution
and giving us all an opportunity to voice our sorrow at this horrifying
act of violence.
It is difficult for any of us to fathom the sort of hatred and
prejudice that could lead a young person to carry out such a horrible
attack on another young person. What leads to that sort of pent-up
anger and hatred?
Accounts from family and friends tell us that Matthew was a kind, a
gentle and a caring young man who was always ready to lend a helping
hand, always ready to try to figure out what he could do to help others
make their way.
So, it is a sad day, and I am sad that today as we are moving into a
new century that we still see this kind of fear and this hatred
directed toward people simply on the basis of who they are, based on
their sexual orientation or based on the color of their skin or based
on anything that anyone views as different from what they know.
It is wrong. We are truly a Nation of differences. We are built from
people who came from so many different lands from so many different
backgrounds and we need to learn to accept and to embrace these
differences. Our diversity, in fact, is what makes us so strong as a
Nation. It should never tear us apart and it should never do anything
to inflict pain and suffering on others.
I hope that we learn a lesson from this tragedy, though it is hard to
fathom that we could learn something from this awful act. But we do not
want to have Matthew die in vain.
I hope that the Congress will stand together to pass the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act. I think we need to send a strong message that there is
no place for hatred in this land of ours, and that these types of
horrifying crimes cannot and will not be tolerated.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my friend and classmate.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I am here in support of this resolution
because I, like so many others, am deeply outraged at the death of
Matthew Shepard. It is a terrible, unspeakable and horrible crime, but
words cannot express how horrible this action is.
I wish I could say to Matthew's family how much they are in my
thoughts and prayers and emotions. As a new father of a 5\1/2\-month-
old baby boy, I cannot possibly imagine the pain and suffering of the
Shepard family. From all I have read and heard about Matthew Shepard,
he was an incredible young man who had wonderful gifts to offer this
world. We will never know now his potential, what his long life might
have brought to us all.
So what do we do now? That is the question we must all ask ourselves.
And it is my view that we should and we must pass the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act now, and we should do it before this Congress adjourned.
But that alone is not going to stop the kind of action that led to
Matthew's death. This terrible tragedy highlights the need for us to
teach our children in our homes, in our churches, and in our schools
that every human being deserves our respect, our tolerance, and the
right to live their lives secure from the threat of violence.
Whatever their race, their religion, their color, their sexual
orientation, their beliefs, their creed, their gender, their language,
their nationality, their age, all men and women are endowed with basic
human dignity and the right to live their lives to their full
potential.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs.
Cubin) for yielding me this time. I also thank both the gentlewoman
from Wyoming and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) for
introducing this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I was with a large group of people last evening at the
vigil to commemorate the tragic death of Matthew Shepard, and I join my
colleagues and I join all other Americans in offering my sympathy and
my prayers for the family of Matthew Shepard.
We like to think in America that hate crimes are a phenomenon of the
past. But the death of Matthew Shepard is a tragic reminder that this
just is not so. We do have to recognize that many citizens of our
country cannot take for granted the right to live life without fear of
violence simply based on their race, their ethnicity, religion,
disability or sexual orientation.
James Byrd, the African-American man who was dragged to his death
behind a truck in Texas in July, is an example of that. Indeed, Matthew
Shepard who was beaten and left for dead outside Laramie, Wyoming,
tells us that we need to do more to prevent hate crimes.
We in America pride ourselves on the fact that all people are
entitled to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, as well as freedom
from violence and from hate crimes. I hope that we will be resolved and
that we will pledge that we will take this tragedy and translate it
into action. Into action and pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act; into
action in terms of changing our attitude in making sure that we educate
people and making sure that each and every one of us has a
responsibility for each other.
{time} 1115
It was Thornton Wilder who once wrote, there is a land of the living
and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival and
the only meaning.
May Matthew Shepard live on in love and may we resolve to remedy this
problem so there are no hate crimes in our country or in our world.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), Democratic leader.
(Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, first I want to express all of our deep
feeling of sympathy for the family of Matthew Shepard and for the
friends and all the people that knew Matthew Shepard personally.
He was taken from his family by a heinous act, an evil act, an
outrageous act of violence. I join with my colleagues in offering our
condolences and our prayers to his family and his friends.
This awful crime shocks an entire Nation, and it shocks our
consciences. It reminds us that we have a long, long, long way to go
before all Americans can feel safe from this kind of heinous attack.
Matthew was a promising young man who happened to be gay. He was
killed because of a chance encounter with a random act of hatred and
violence. But it is important to remember that no one in our society is
safe from this kind of random act as long as the impulse of intolerance
lives among our fellow Americans. Any one of our sons or daughters
could have come in contact with the perpetrators on that grim night.
Any of us could be in the place of Matthew's parents.
I have a son by the name of Matthew. He is about 27 years old now. I
cannot imagine, if I put myself into the shoes of this young man's
parents, I cannot
[[Page H10931]]
imagine the outrage, the desire for retribution that I would feel
today. I cannot imagine their grief and their sorrow.
So we stand here today knowing that no gesture will return this young
man to earth. Resolutions are no match for harsh punishment for these
crimes. It is vitally important for Congress to speak with one voice on
this issue as we do today, to condemn the manifestation of hatred in
our society against any one of us and to say clearly that we reject
prejudice and intolerance wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head.
All Americans join together today as one in sending our deep and
prayerful feelings to these parents. May this never happen again and
may the meaning of his life be that we pass a hate crimes act in this
Congress before we leave so that we say to all, there is punishment for
this kind of hatred.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Riggs). The gentlewoman from Colorado
(Ms. DeGette) has 8\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the gentlewoman from
Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) has 14\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Pelosi).
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Colorado for
yielding me the time and to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin)
for putting forth this resolution today. I particularly want to thank
the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) for her courage in putting
this forth, also in terms of pointing out the need for hate crimes
legislation.
Let us focus on Matthew Shepard. Matthew Shepard was a lovely young
man. He was willing to be open about who he was. That took courage.
Clearly, it took a great deal of courage. I cannot help but think if
Matthew would not still be alive had people not known that he was a gay
person.
I think the tragedy of his death points out the need for hate crimes
legislation. But as we consider this issue, I am going to submit my
statement for the record, Mr. Speaker. I just want to speak as one who
has the privilege of representing a district with a large number of gay
and lesbian people. They are part of the success of our community. They
help build our community.
When I hear people talk about tolerance for gay and lesbian people,
it is interesting to me, because in our community tolerance is an issue
of long ago. Certainly we tolerate. That is not even the issue. We
respect our gay and lesbian community. More than that, we take great
pride in them, in each and every one of them and collectively in the
contribution that they make to our community in San Francisco, indeed,
to our great country.
So it is such a tragedy when a young man has the courage to be open
about who he is and his life is taken for it. What more needs to
happen? How many more deaths, how many assaults on the personal
integrity of people physically and otherwise need to happen before this
Congress will see the need for the hate crimes legislation? There are
those who say that we should not be talking about that today. Of
course, we should. If this young man had the courage to be open about
who he is, cannot this Congress be courageous enough to honor his
memory by passing the hate crimes legislation?
Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in remembering the life of
Matthew Shepard and deploring his tragic death. Matthew was willing to
be open about who he was, and we should celebrate the courage and the
dignity that he embodied during his too short life. I send my
condolences to his family and loved ones.
Matthew's brutal murder was a tragedy, but, unfortunately, not an
isolated incident. Harassment of gays, lesbians and bisexuals is not
limited to one period in our history, or one region of the country. We
read today in the paper yesterday that in a study of community college
students in the San Francisco Bay Area, 32% of male respondents said
they had verbally threatened gays, and 18% said they have physically
threatened or assaulted them.
According to statistics kept by the National Coalition of Anti-
Violence programs, at least 18 Americans were murdered in 1997 because
they were gay or lesbian. Also last year, there were over 2400 reports
of anti-gay or lesbian incidents in the United States.
Hate crimes take many forms and affect many different kinds of
victims. The horrible murder of James Byrd, Jr., an African-American
man in Texas, is still fresh in our memories. According to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, in 1996 there were over 8700 reported
incidents of hate crimes because of race, religion, national origin, or
sexual orientation. And reported incidents of hate crimes on college
campuses are increasing at a disturbing rate.
It is because of these hard realities, and the circumstances of the
murder of Matthew Shepard, that his eulogy should be accompanied by
action. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would not end all violence
against people because they are gay, or African-American, or Jewish, or
come from another country. But it would allow the federal government to
investigate and punish crimes motivated by hate.
Matthew's murder is the manifestation of enduring bigotry still all
too prevalent in our society. These attacks demand a national response
that enables federal law enforcement officials to fight these crimes
and punish their perpetrators.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act will provide needed tools to law
enforcement, and it will serve as a lasting tribute to the life of
Matthew Shepard. Before we take the final vote of the 105th Congress, I
urge my colleagues to remember Matthew by passing the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).
Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Colorado for
yielding me time.
Thousands gathered last night at the west steps of the Capitol to
mourn the loss of Matthew Shepard. The vast majority of us did not know
Matthew personally, but we were united in our belief that the hate that
took Matthew's life is unacceptable in America. We were united in our
belief that America still has a long way to go before our gays and
lesbians can stop fearing for their lives because of who they are. We
were united in our belief that Congress can help prevent and prosecute
these terrible crimes by passing tough hate crimes legislation. We were
united in our belief that we will never be silenced until gays and
lesbians can live without fear. And we were united in our commitment to
speak out with our voices and our votes against anti-gay rhetoric,
against anti-gay newspaper ads, against anti-gay legislation and
against the thuggery that took Matthew Shepard's life.
Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing that this entire body can agree
on, it is that the hate that took Matthew Shepard's life should be
condemned. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).
(Mr. GEJDENSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Miller).
(Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. MILLER of California. I join my colleagues in support of this
effort.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).
(Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution
597 and to offer my sincere sympathies to the family of Matthew
Shepard. I cannot imagine their pain. I offer my sympathies also to all
families who have suffered needless losses due to discriminating hate
and prejudice.
What happened to Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming is not an
example of a breakaway faction, of an out-of-touch community in rural
America. What happened to Matthew Shepard happens every day to citizens
in our very own country whose only crime is to be honest, honest about
who they are and what they believe.
Mr. Speaker, it is time to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Harassment and hate crimes against the gay community is commonplace. It
is time to come together as a Nation to condemn such hate crimes.
Mr. Speaker, I am greatly disturbed that hate crimes like the murder
of Matthew Shepard are on the rise. This is a type of crime that
embodies intolerance, an act of violence against a
[[Page H10932]]
person based on a victim's race, color, gender, religion or sexual
orientation. Hate crimes leave deep scars not only to the victim's
family but also to the larger community. Unfortunately, every year
thousands of Americans are victims of hate crimes, and we suspect that
many, many hate crimes go unreported.
To honor Matthew Shepard, Mr. Speaker, we must as a Congress make
sure that families like Matthew's know that there is not a person in
this body that would make it easy or easier by making it OK for a hate
crime to be carried out, for a person to have a prejudice against
another person because of their sexual orientation.
Mr. Speaker, we must pass this resolution.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who has been
working on this issue for many years.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton) is recognized for 3 minutes.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the
time, and I thank her and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) for
their initiative, timely and important these last days.
My sympathies are with Matthew Shepard's family and friends. At the
same time I recognize that they deserve much more from this body.
Last night I welcomed thousands of people to the west steps of the
Capitol on behalf of the jurisdiction that has the strongest human
rights laws and the strongest hate crime laws in the United States of
America. That was not the United States of America; it was the District
of Columbia. I wish I could have said the same about the country that
we in this body serve.
As I speak, indeed there are anti-gay measures on the D.C.
appropriation. This body has to take responsibility for the fact that
when people read that this body wants gays not to be able to adopt
children, when this body wants clean needles not to be available even
with the District's own money, this body has sent a homophobic message
that is picked up by people like those who murdered Matthew Shepard.
Last night was a very moving memorial of its own. But the Members who
came in large numbers surely thought, do we not have in our hands the
ability, the capacity to come forward with the most meaningful memorial
of all, the bill pending for years now in this House that would deter
this crime and when it occurs, punish this crime?
So this afternoon while we all commiserate and grieve for this
family, this should be a moment of introspection for this body, because
the question for this body is what are we going to do about it and is
it enough to grieve about it.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is what is left to be done about it.
Imagine human rights legislation that left you out. If you are white,
if you are black, if you are male, if you are female, you are included
within the great American family of human rights laws, but not if you
are gay. We must use what amounts to human sacrifice, the sacrifice of
this young man, to include gay people in the family of American people.
We must also be very careful with our own talk. No one who speaks
about their disagreement with the homosexual lifestyle means for
somebody to go out and murder gays. But we must come to grips with the
fact that that is how that message is perceived and taken by many.
Pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and, while you are at it, pass
the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.
{time} 1130
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Riggs).
Mr. RIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming and the
gentlewoman from Colorado for their important initiative here. I think
it is important that the House go on record as supporting this
resolution, expressing their condemnation of hatred and violence,
especially obviously in this situation, and encouraging diversity and
tolerance and compassion in American life.
As I was in the chair and listening to the minority leader's
comments, I heard him mention that the Gephardt family has a son by the
name of Matthew. The Riggs family has a son by the name of Matthew, so
it is a pretty special name in our household. It is also a Biblical
name. I guess what I find so shocking about this crime is its
brutality, its callousness and the youthful age of the perpetrators. It
suggests to me that these young people accused of this crime are
typical of too many people in their generation who have not gotten the
appropriate education, knowledge and adult supervision and guidance
that they need to live lives as productive citizens, who embrace those
American qualities of tolerance and compassion.
Again, I think the resolution is commendable and worthwhile. I do
have misgivings about whether we need to create a new Federal crime
category of hate crimes and would respectfully suggest to my colleagues
that perhaps it is more important that we address the root causes of
these kind of crimes in American society. I think we all have some idea
as to the root causes. One certainly is a modern media culture that all
too often passes as mainstream culture in American life that glamorizes
and even glorifies violence and brutality, a lack of character, values
and training in our schools, in our education system, and fundamentally
a breakdown of the American family. I am really concerned about the
last two categories and have worked hard on those two initiatives,
fatherhood and education, over the last 2 years in this Congress and
understand that it is far less likely that a child will go astray if,
again, they have proper adult role models, hopefully an intact nuclear
family, a father and mother who care for that child in that household.
I think one of the other things we can do as we reflect on this
tragic, horrific crime and send our hearts and our prayers to the
family of Matthew Shepard is rededicate ourselves to addressing the
root causes of these type of crimes in American life.
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time and for her
leadership on this initiative.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, every crime that is committed is a hateful crime.
Brutalizing another person is a reprehensible act regardless of the
motivation of the criminal or the affiliation of the victim. If
convicted of first-degree murder in Wyoming, the suspects could be
sentenced to death. Hate crime laws are enacted to enhance punishment.
No sentence could be stronger, even if hate crimes legislation was
enacted.
The crime committed against Matthew Shepard is not only a crime
against Matthew Shepard, but it is a crime against the dignity of all
humanity. It is a crime against all of us. This cannot and will not be
tolerated. This is not a time to divide our country over the
differences that we have over certain legislation. Matthew's family has
asked that that not happen. This is a time to unite in our common goal
of ridding our country of intolerance, bigotry and prejudice and to
offer comfort to Matthew's family and friends.
Matthew left this world as an example to each one of us. He would
want us to work against violence and hatred and toward peace and
tolerance. There will be a memorial service for Matthew Shepard held in
Laramie, Wyoming, tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a somber heart and a
troubled soul.
I rise today to grieve the loss of a young man.
Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old college student majoring in
political science because he--like many Members of this body--wanted to
fight for civil and human rights.
But Matthew will never join this fight because Matthew died on
Monday.
Matthew's death was no accident.
It was a conscious act of hate and intolerance taken to such an
extreme that a 21-year-old man was brutally and savagely beaten,
strapped to a fence like an animal, and left to die.
Matthew was murdered for one reason: Hate.
Hate directed at Matthew because he was gay and he dared share that
fact with others.
Mr. Speaker, this body must share in the responsibility and the guilt
for Matthew's brutal murder.
We are fostering a culture of intolerance and hate in this body with
words and even legislation that denies equal standing and protection
under the law to others due solely to their sexual orientation.
[[Page H10933]]
Matthew's death at the butt of a .357 magnum is the result.
In 1962, on the acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. said ``Man must evolve for all human conflict a method
which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of
such a method is love.''
Mr. Speaker, I make a plea that we in this body heed Dr. King's words
and work for a culture of tolerance.
In the name of Matthew Shepard we must finally act on and pass the
Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill which I have proudly co-sponsored.
Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res.
597.
The cruel and senseless torture and ultimate death of Matthew Shepard
has lit a fire under the national discourse surrounding the prevention
of hate crimes. It is a tragedy that such a horrible crime against
humanity must serve as the rallying point for the passage of hate
crimes prevention legislation. In fact, it is a tragedy that this
country should even have the need for hate crimes prevention
legislation. But sadly, we do.
The murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming too vividly brings to mind
the vicious assault of an African-American man, James Bryd, who was
dragged to his death from the back of a pickup truck this past June in
Texas. These are two cases that have grabbed national headlines because
of their atrociousness. But these are only two of the far too many
instances where people are singled out and victimized because of their
race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or
disability.
No Federal law exists to address hate crimes. Ten states do not have
any hate crime prevention laws. Of the 40 states that have passed hate
crime legislation, 19 do not cover attacks motivated by sexual
orientation. We need Federal legislation to provide a clear and
consistent standard that outlines the offenses that comprise a heat
crime.
My friend and colleague Representative Charles Schumer introduced a
bill that would establish a national standard to deal with hate crimes,
the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1997, H.R. 3081. This bill would
expand existing law to facilitate the assistance of federal authorities
in crimes motivated by hate. Unfortunately, failure to pass the Hate
Crimes Prevention Act is yet another failure to act by the 105th
Congress. But this issue will not die with this Congress. I intend to
continue fighting for justice for everyone--for Matthew Shepard, for
James Byrd, and for every other American who is a victim of a hate
crime.
Matthew Shepard's death was needless. Passing this legislation will
not bring him back, nor will it erase the pain suffered by his family,
his friends, and our nation as a whole. But with an explicit and
consistent law outlining the offenses that constitute a hate crime, our
Nation will be better armed to fight and prevent the prejudice and
ignorance that result in tragic hate crimes.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, the tragic and brutal murder of Matthew
Shepard reminds us how far we still need to go to eliminate violence
and bigotry in this country.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Shepard family and Matt's
friends in Wyoming.
It sickens me every time I hear news of violent attacks against gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender men and women. Tragically, these
types of incidents are not rare.
Today, we are here to condemn the savage, brutal, vicious attack
against Matthew Shepard. It is entirely proper for us to do so.
However, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people need real
protection, not just a sense of Congress that something must be done.
We have a real plan, real legislation, that is before this House that
must be enacted.
We owe it to our nation to take action immediately to reduce the
number of these incidents and to punish those who attack others based
on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation.
There is no simple solution to this problem. We should support hate
crime prevention programs, fund special training for law enforcement
professionals, teach tolerance and support for diversity in our
schools, and confront head-on the daily prejudice that we see in our
communities. We must also address the fundamental bigotry that leads to
these crimes. However, passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the
Bias Crimes Compensation Act are important first steps.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention
Act, which would allow federal law enforcement authorities to
investigate and prosecute violent hate crimes when the state and local
authorities are either unable or unwilling to do so. This bill has more
than 160 co-sponsors and has already had a lengthy hearing in the
Judiciay Committee.
We should also pass a bill I introduced entitled ``The Bias Crimes
Compensation Act'', which would provide a civil claim for individuals
who are victims of hate crimes, so that they could sue their attackers
for compensatory damages. These two simple proposals ought to be
brought up on their own or included in the final appropriations
measure. The country has demanded action and we ought to respond with
meaningful legislation.
Hate crimes deserve special attention, since they can have such
devastating and lasting effects on victims and the communities from
which they come. They are not simply attacks against one individual,
rather, they affect whole communities and are acts of ideological
terrorism.
The time to act is now. The need is clear. We ought to pass hate
crimes legislation today.
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the
millions of Americans who are mourning the death of Matthew Shepard,
who died Monday, at the age of 21 years old after being beaten, robbed,
and left to die, tied to a fence near Laramie, Wyo. I wish to express
my sadness to Matthew's family and send them my prayers as they grieve
over his death.
It is a tragedy anytime a young person is a victim of violence, which
we all know happens far too often. The murder rate for young people in
this country is a national crisis and a national disgrace.
According to police reports, Matthew Shepard was targeted by his
killers because of his sexual orientation. Thus his murder is
particularly saddening and disturbing.
Matthew Shepard's death is, unfortunately, not an isolated incident.
According to the FBI, more than a thousand gay and lesbian men and
women were the victims of violent ``hate crimes'' last year.
In this way, Matthew Shepard's death reflects a much wider problem in
our society. But the public reaction may also signal a turning point in
efforts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
It is my hope that something positive will be extracted from this
senseless and despicable act by our working even harder against such
hate crimes in our country. We need to send the message that these
crimes will not be tolerated, and that those who commit them will be
duly punished.
I would also hope that those who seek to demonize homosexuality, and
who may in turn, intentionally or unintentionally, fuel hatred against
gays and lesbians, reflect on the possible consequences of their
actions. No single person or movement can be blamed for Matthew's
death. But everyone should examine the way in which their words or
actions may help contribute to an atmosphere of intolerance that makes
such tragedies more likely.
Bigotry, prejudice, and hatred are not American values. Our diversity
is our strength. If we are to thrive as a society, every institution--
our families, schools, government, businesses, and places of worship--
must work together to bridge our differences and to respect the rights
and freedoms of every individual
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, this has been a rough week for
parents.
I think every mother and father in America trembled when we heard
about Matthew Shepard's beating in Wyoming, and anxiously waited for
word of his condition. And we all must have wept at the thought of a
child tortured and left to die on a country road.
I hope every parent did what I wanted to do: hug your children, and
hold them close. But along with the rest of the House and Senate, I am
trapped in Washington while Congress debates our budget. And being
3,000 miles away meant, unfortunately, that I was not able to stand
with my neighbors at the local events organized to remember Matt.
This was a crime beyond words, and I have not yet found a way to
sufficiently express my grief and compassion for the Shepard family,
just as our nation has not yet found a way to respond to this tragedy.
As a legislator, my thoughts turn to the actions our nation can take
through our lawmaking process.
It is a sad but bitter truth that no law can return this talented,
kind-hearted young man to his family and friends. But we are a nation
of laws, and our government cannot stand by without a response.
In a year when voices from our Capitol have likened homosexuality to
kleptomania, in a year when our newspapers and magazines have been
filled with the harmful words of groups urging gay men and lesbians to
change who they are, we must respond. We must counter these dangerous,
hateful words, because they send a message to our nation's youth that
the Matt Shepherds of our nation are not entitled to love who they
want, be who they are and live lives of dignity, security and liberty.
The cowardly thugs who left Matthew to die on that cold night used
these words to take matters into their hands. I feel personally
obligated as an elected official to make sure these criminals know
their actions will not be tolerated.
I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 3081, the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act. This bill was introduced to Congress last year, and
would
[[Page H10934]]
classify crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation--as well
as race, religion, national origin, religion, gender or disability--
hate crimes.
That is a very important distinction. Hate crimes are a federal
matter, which means their victims are protected by our country when
local agencies fail them. This bill would authorize the U.S. Department
of Justice to treat hate crimes as a particularly dangerous matter,
with research and prosecution funds to match.
That seems reasonable, you must be thinking. But the Republican
leadership has refused to allow Congress to vote on this bill.
Our nation has paid the price for intolerance too many times. But we
can turn this into a bittersweet blessing, if we open one mind or
prevent one hateful act. I am reminded of San Francisco Supervisor
Harvey Milk's words: ``If a bullet should enter my brain, let that
bullet destroy every closed door.''
Nothing will reverse the fact that Matthew Shepard is dead. But we
now find ourselves faced with two options. We can let this session of
Congress end without responding, without taking the opportunity to
prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again. Or we can vow to do
whatever we can to make sure that never again will a person's life be
cut short so cruelly because of hate.
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, public officials have to ensure that
nothing we say could ever be interpreted to give comfort to people who
would commit brutal acts such as what happened to Matthew Shepard. As
elected leaders of our nation, we have a responsibility to remember
that what we say and do is important, that if we are not careful with
our words, they can be used by hateful individuals.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said: ``Injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere.'' If this young man can be killed because
of his sexual orientation, than all of our liberties are at risk. If a
person can be killed for his sexual orientation, for his race, for his
gender, than none of us are truly free.
My parents escaped Europe at a time when Hitler and Stalin were
trying to exterminate entire peoples. I was born in a camp for
refugees. After the war we promised to never forget the suffering of
the Holocaust. I am proud that all of us are joining together today to
condemn this brutality. We must always stand up against such acts of
hatred.
After the war, Pastor Martin Niemoeller said in a letter: ``In
Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't
speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade
unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a
Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to
speak up.'' We should all remember the Pastor's words, especially after
events like this.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support
for House Resolution 597, and express my deep remorse and sorrow at the
tragic murder of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay student at the
University of Wyoming. He was brutally attacked last Thursday and left
to die while tied to a wooden fence. He was found near death eighteen
hours later, yet he continued to fight for his life through the weekend
until his tragic death Monday morning. I join my colleagues in sending
my deepest condolences to Matthew's family and friends.
Mr. Speaker, I am appalled by this senseless crime, which reflects
the cowardly prejudice of the thugs who committed this outrage. The
House must honor Matthew's memory not only by adopting this resolution
of respect that we are considering here today, but we must also pass
legislation that upholds the right of all Americans to live free of
bigoted violence, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin,
or sexual orientation.
As we remember Matthew Shepard, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to
join in support of H.R. 3081, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This
important bill would perform two very vital legal functions. It would
eliminate gaps in Federal authority that have restricted the Justice
Department's ability to prosecute hate crimes in a significant number
of cases. While this reform would greatly enhance Federal authority to
fight hate crimes, its significance pales in comparison to the second
major provision of H.R. 3081, which would extend the Justice
Department's authority to combat such violence to include cases
involving death or serious bodily injury resulting from crimes directed
at individuals because of their sexual orientation, gender, or
disability. Under existing law (Section 245 of Title 19 U.S.C., in
effect since 1968) only those individuals whose rights are obstructed
on the basis of their race, color, religion, or national origin merit
this protection. It is time to expand the Federal Government's legal
authority to cover all Americans who are victims of the coarsest and
most malicious expressions of bigotry, and, regrettably, Mr. Speaker,
this all too often includes gay Americans.
Mr. Speaker, the horrendous murder of Matthew Shepard underscores the
importance of our moving quickly to adopt the Hate Crimes Prevention
Act. As Elizabeth Birch, the Executive Director of the Human Rights
Campaign, points out:
Federal law enforcement agencies have no jurisdiction over
hate crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation.
Although the Albany County, Wyoming, authorities have made
arrests in the case, if they were to request forensic
resources or assistance from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), the FBI would not be able to provide
assistance due to lack of jurisdiction.
Mr. Speaker, this loophole in our nation's hate crime laws must be
closed and we can close it now. We cannot afford to wait for more
tragedies to further sensitize us to the outrageousness of anti-gay
violence.
I would also like to note, Mr. Speaker, that the crisis of violence
against homosexual men and women extends across international
boundaries. Two months ago, I chaired a forum of the Congressional
Human Rights Caucus which drew attention to the global prevalence of
violence and abuse based on sexual orientation. Our well-informed
witnesses cited in nations ranging from Uganda to Lithuania, from
Turkey to Peru, where governments have failed and continue to refuse to
protect their own gay citizens from unspeakable crimes and violations
of their human rights.
America rightly holds its elected leaders to a much higher standard,
and it is time for us to justify this trust of decency and honor by
passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. It is long past time to send
this vital legislation to President Clinton, who, along with Vice
President Al Gore, has expressed firm support of this initiative. The
memory of Matthew Shepard merits no lesser consideration.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.
Res. 597, Expressing the Sense of the House regarding the death of Mr.
Matthew Shepard. Last week, Matthew Shepard, a student at the
University of Wyoming, was lured off campus by two young men, driven to
a remote location, bludgeoned with the butt of a gun, burned, and
strapped to a fence to die. There is strong evidence that his attackers
were motivated because Matthew Shepard was gay.
Unfortunately, Matthew Shepard's death is not an isolated incident.
It is the latest in a series of brutally violent crimes committed
against people for no other reason than the color of their skin, their
sexual orientation or their religion. In April 1994, two African-
American men murdered a white man in Lubbock, Texas. The killers later
admitted that they had set out to find a white victim. In 1997, an
African-American man in Virginia was soaked in gasoline, burned alive,
and then beheaded. It was later discovered that he was targeted because
he was black. Earlier this year, James Byrd, a disabled black man in
Texas, was lured into a pickup truck and driven to a remote location
where he was beaten unconscious, chained to the truck, and dragged
around until he was beheaded.
I look forward to the upcoming debate on expanding the Hate Crimes
legislation to include acts of violence against people based upon their
sexual orientation. Matthew Shepard's death should focus our attention
on and spur us to complete a careful analysis of this issue. Today,
Matthew Shepard is to be remembered. His friends and family are in our
prayers.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 597 and
commend my colleagues, Congresswoman DeGette and Congresswoman Cubin,
for introducing this resolution. At times like this we should come
together as a Congress to focus on this tragedy and state our strong
abhorrence to such crimes.
I would like to join with my colleagues and offer my sincere
condolences to the family and friends of Matthew Shepard.
We are here today to condemn the horrific murder of Matthew Shepard.
Through this resolution we are making a pledge to do everything in our
power to fight the prejudice and intolerance that leads to the murders
of innocent victim like Matthew Shepard. We should challenge ourselves
to do just that.
Once again, our Nation awoke to another needless tragedy of an
innocent victim. When a man is brutally murdered because he is gay, the
damage has far surpassed the individual victim.
When a hate crime is committed, the entire community is wounded.
The tragic death of Matthew Shepard is a vivid and shocking reminder
that even in a civilized society there are those motivated by vicious
hate. We can no longer stand by and wait for another tragedy to happen
before we pass legislation. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a
powerful and essential law that not only says that crimes of hate are
unacceptable, but that they will be punished severely.
We are standing here today to condemn this hateful crime and the men
who committed it.
[[Page H10935]]
But we should also be urging the Republican Leadership to pass this
essential legislation that would allow these criminals to be prosecuted
with the full arm of the Federal law. Federal hate crime legislation is
essential in the goal to eliminate crimes motivated by prejudice.
In June, the Nation was horrified by the tragic death of James Byrd.
This event sparked concern and debate about hate crimes across our
Nation. But sadly it wasn't enough. Now another tragedy has occurred.
We cannot pass up the opportunity to make this crucial legislation a
reality.
There are some who have said this bill will give special protection
to certain groups. To that I say that this bill is in response to the
hate that people have in our society towards gay men and women. The
perpetrators in this crime did not choose their victim randomly, they
chose him because he was gay.
If we stay silent, the bigots win.
I believe this legislation is a crucial part of our answer to hate
crimes.
This is not about ``special preferences,'' nor is this about some
theoretical identity-politics agenda. This is about combating the very
real threat of violence faced by too many Americans.
Every hate crime is an offense against the most basic values of
American society. Sadly it takes tragedy to galvanize America's
attention. We have to seize the moment and pass a tougher law, or else
the brutal deaths of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd will have been in
vain.
There are those who fail to believe that this legislation would be a
deterrent to these horrific crimes. I am still hopeful that the
Republican leadership will endorse our effort. We need to pledge to
ourselves that we will pass this legislation. When we do pass it, and I
do believe we will pass it, it must be before another horrible crime is
committed. We must act now.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Riggs). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 597.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________