[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce 
hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate 
crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable 
in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to 
highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
  On March 30, 1999, Tracey Thompson was murdered in Wilcox County, GA. 
Thompson was a transgender person that was found bleeding from a head 
wound after walking a half-mile to a local farmhouse. According to 
police, she was beaten with a baseball bat, and desecrated in a way 
that made the attack an apparent hate crime.
  I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, 
to defend them against the harms that are born out of hate. The Local 
Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. 
I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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