[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE BIGGEST FAILURE OF THE 105TH CONGRESS--NO HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 1998

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on this our last day of the 105th Congress, I 
must voice my deep regret that we refused to take any action on a 
Federal ``hate crimes'' bill. Many of my colleagues argued that the 
assault and homicide statutes in the individual states were sufficient 
to address any abuses perpetrated against our citizens because of race, 
religion, ethnicity or sexual preference. Others argued that many 
states already had hate crimes laws on the books and therefore a 
Federal statute was simply an unnecessary duplication.
  Unfortunately, our failure to act signals much more than a concern 
about duplication of laws or an honest debate about the sufficiency of 
state laws to protect innocent citizens against crimes which occur 
simply because the victims are in some way ``different'' from their 
attackers. These physical attacks have increased with alarming 
frequency; they have been both racially motivated and homophobic. 
During the 105th Congress, we saw violent racial attacks on Black men 
and children which resulted in severe injuries in two cases and death 
in another. The recent death of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard, was 
due solely to the fact that he was gay and his attackers hated gays. 
Bias and prejudice are not figments of a liberal imagination; they are 
very real acts especially when they result in death or injury.
  Unless we make a clear public policy statement opposing these acts, 
we give the attackers the impression that their abhorrent behavior is 
acceptable. That is why I have sponsored amendments to The Civil Rights 
Act, H.R. 365, which would give Federal civil rights protection against 
discrimination on the basis of sexual preference. But we must go beyond 
anti-discrimination laws; we must ensure that there is a Federal 
statute to punish the perpetrators of bias-based attacks.
  It is my fervent hope that the biggest failure of the 105th Congress 
will not be repeated in the 106th Congress. Let us pass a Federal hate 
crimes bill as our first order of business in January.

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