[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      URGING MEMBERS TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION REGARDING HATE CRIMES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a Member of 
the Human Rights Caucus of this Congress. That caucus takes as its 
responsibility sort of a checks and balance for human rights violations 
around the world. That is why I rise today with such pain about our own 
situation here in the United States of America.
  Last evening many of us joined with throngs to mourn the loss of 
Matthew Shepard, the young man who died in Wyoming as the result of a 
brutal and devastating murder. Matthew Shepard was gay, but he was 
also, as was claimed and was pronounced last evening, filled with 
vitality and life. He loved life; small in stature, but well worth the 
value of his life and, as well, the opportunity to continue to live his 
life.
  My sympathy goes to Judy and Dennis, his parents, and all of his 
friends in the State of Wyoming. But frankly, the brutal attack against 
Mr. Shepard is not an uncharacteristic once-in-a-lifetime manifestation 
of hatred. It happens too many times in this country.
  During 1985, 7,947 bias-motivated criminal incidents were reported to 
the FBI by approximately 9,600 law enforcement agencies in 45 States 
and the District of Columbia. Sixty-one percent of the incidents were 
motivated by racial bias, 16 percent by religious bias, 13 percent by 
sexual orientation, and the remainder by ethnicity, national origin 
bias, or multiple biases. The 7,947 incidents involved 9,895 separate 
offenses, 10,469 victims, and 8,433 offenders.
  I would say, Mr. Speaker, that in these waning hours, there should be 
nothing more to dictate to us that we should pass the Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act of 1998. Let me thank the President for so quickly 
denouncing both the brutal killing of Matthew Shepard, but as well, 
calling on this Congress to pass this legislation. Allow me to thank 
those negotiators in these last hours who are negotiating on this final 
omnibus bill who have pressed over and over again, why can we not pass 
a Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998?
  Let me ask my colleagues, why not, in the name of James Baird, an 
African American in Jasper, Texas, who was dismembered a few months ago 
out of hatred, or Fred Mangione, in Houston, Texas, who was killed 
because of his sexual orientation? How many more deaths do we need to 
tolerate to be able to pass a Federal law that stands up to the Nation 
and says, we will tolerate hatred no more? We will not accept the 
intolerance of not tolerating those who are different.
  What is wrong with this Nation, in a unified voice, promoting laws 
that protect people who are different because of their religious 
difference, their racial difference, whether or not they have 
disabilities, their sexual orientation, or their gender?
  I have been asked over and over again, why create other laws? Do we 
not have murder, assault, and other laws that will take charge of these 
issues? I simply say that the question has to be asked, what kind of 
moral standing does this Nation want to have?
  Certainly, there are State laws dealing with murder and assault, and 
there are State laws dealing with rape and other types of incidents. 
But the State laws are disorganized, and many of our States have not 
passed hate crimes legislation, including the State of Wyoming. Some 
States who have made a good-faith effort find that their legislation is 
overbroad and vague, and therefore it is not a valuable tool for 
prosecutors.
  In talking to U.S. attorneys who would have to prosecute this law, 
this Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998, they say it clearly answers 
the question of preciseness, because it delineates those who would be 
covered by such a law. It enhances the sentencing for those who would 
perpetrate violence because others are different.
  Do we want to live in a country that accepts a random, reckless 
attack because you happen to be an African American walking along a 
lonely road, or you happen to be someone of a different sexual 
orientation who is sitting in a bar, minding his or her own business, 
engaging in what most Americans would like to do, enjoying themselves?
  Do we want to be a Nation who points the finger at others who are 
violating human rights, and yet we do not have the courage to stand up 
and pass legislation, simple as it might be, in order to protect those 
who are different?

                              {time}  1745

  I call upon my colleagues in these last hours of this session, if we 
do anything as we have done to help our children and others, can we not 
stand up for human rights and human justice? Can we not pass the Hate 
Crimes Prevention Act of 1998? I hope the answer is a resounding 
``yes.''

                          ____________________