[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

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                        HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2000

  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in calling for 
the prompt scheduling of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
  It is unconscionable that two years to the day since the shocking 
murder of James Byrd, Jr., we still have not been able to consider 
legislation that will help us better prosecute and, more importantly, 
help prevent the commission of hate crimes. Sadly, since the senseless 
murder of Mr. Byrd, the news has continued to be filled with stories of 
terrible crimes being committed against people just because of who they 
are--the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, the murder 
of a Filipino-American postal worker, Joseph Illeto, and the wounding 
of children and others at a Los Angeles Jewish community center, and 
less than two months ago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the murder of five 
people including an African American man, a Jewish woman, two Asian 
Americans and an Indian man. And these are just the incidents that made 
the headlines. We never even hear about the thousands of other hate 
crimes that, for whatever reason, go uncovered by the media or are not 
reported to law enforcement officials.
  As elected leaders, it is incumbent upon us to set an example not 
just in expressing our outrage about these crimes, but by putting new 
teeth into our anti-hate crime law enforcement activities. The Hate 
Crimes Prevention Act would ensure that hate crime protections are 
extended to all Americans and would provide resources to local law 
enforcement agencies who must investigate and prosecute hate crimes in 
their communities. We must take this important step to send the message 
that no one should have to live in fear simply for being who they are.
  In fact, we came very close the past two years to getting the Hate 
Crimes Protection Act enacted but could not in the face of Republican 
Leadership opposition. So, once again, I call upon them to drop their 
opposition and allow Hate Crimes Protection Act supporters to have the 
opportunity to make their case on the House floor and pass this 
critical legislation. Continued inaction is a disgrace to the memory of 
all hate crimes victims and to their families. It is also a disgrace 
upon us and who we are as a people.

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