[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3065-H3066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PASS THE HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Deputy Attorney 
General Eric Holder, who yesterday correctly testified before Congress 
that current Federal hate crime laws are inadequate in the fight 
against crimes of hate. Present laws do not prohibit crimes against 
individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender. Deputy 
Attorney General Holder urged Congress to pass legislation that would 
expand Federal authority to prosecute those responsible for such 
crimes.
  On May 3, 1999, I hosted a community discussion at Clark University 
in Worcester, Massachusetts, on this timely and important piece of 
legislation, H.R. 1082, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999.
  The forum brought together scores of community leaders and 
organizations, including the National Conference for Community and 
Justice, the Human Rights Campaign, the Safe Homes

[[Page H3066]]

Project, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Center, and the Jewish 
Federation of Central Massachusetts.
  Over the past few months we as a country have witnessed horrific 
crimes motivated by hate. Last year James Byrd, Junior, a 49-year-old 
black man, was murdered in a brutal attack in Jasper, Texas. His 
alleged assailants, three white men, dragged him for 2 miles while he 
was chained to the back of a truck.
  Four months later Matthew Shepard, an openly gay student at the 
University of Wyoming, was kidnapped, robbed, beaten, and burned by two 
men on a cold October night. This young man, with a promising future, 
died 6 days later.
  Recently in Littleton, Colorado, certain high school students 
appeared to have been specifically targeted and murdered because of 
their race and chosen faith. In my own district, the Jewish Community 
Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, experienced the evils of anti-
Semitism when Nazi swastikas were painted throughout the facilities.
  Those who participated in the community meeting last week shared 
moving accounts on the effects of intolerance. These crimes attack the 
very democratic foundation of our country.
  The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would expand the situations where the 
Department of Justice can prosecute defendants for violent crimes 
committed because of the victim's race, color, religion, or national 
origin.
  It would also authorize the Department of Justice to prosecute 
individuals who commit violent crimes against others because of the 
victim's sexual orientation, gender, or disability. Current Federal law 
does not cover crimes with these motives.
  In 1997, the latest year for which FBI figures are available, over 
8,000 hate crime incidents were reported. That is nearly one hate crime 
every hour. Clearly the time to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is 
now.
  Over 40 States have hate crimes statutes, including, I am proud to 
say, my home State of Massachusetts. However, only 21 cover sexual 
orientation, 22 cover gender, and 21 cover disability. By strengthening 
the Federal law, State and local authorities will be able to utilize 
Federal personnel and investigative resources.
  Hate knows no boundaries. We need a law to protect all Americans. 
Tough Federal hate crimes legislation would give our justice system the 
tools and authority to recognize acts of violence committed on the 
basis of a person's gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or 
religion.
  By recognizing these incidents and punishing those responsible, we 
can begin to eradicate these acts of hate from our schools, our 
neighborhoods, and our country.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, believed that injustice anywhere is a 
threat to justice everywhere. By passing this legislation, Congress 
will send a clear and powerful message that we will not tolerate these 
violent acts which not only change the life of the victim, but affect 
the entire community. The ripple effect caused by these crimes sends 
shock waves throughout the targeted community, often leaving fear, 
despair, and loneliness in its wake.
  We all need to join together to break down the walls of ignorance and 
to build a community founded on tolerance, justice, and compassion. The 
allies of hate are not just the perpetrators. Silence and complacency 
are allies, as well. The enemy of hate is a community and a Congress 
that does not tolerate hateful messages, words, or deeds.
  We must take a stand and pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 
now; not next year or sometime in the future, but now.

                          ____________________