[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2595]
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 November 14, 2001, Pablo Parrilla was charged with first-degree 
intentional homicide in the shooting death of his sister's girlfriend, 
Juana Vega. Parilla confronted Vega outside her Milwaukee, WI, house 
and shot her repeatedly. According to reports, Parrilla was shouting 
sexually derogatory slurs toward Vega throughout the attack.
  I would note that recently in the House, hate crimes legislation was 
passed in a bipartisan vote. I strongly believe that we must also move 
similar legislation in the Senate. In the months ahead, I look forward 
to working with Senator Kennedy as we continue our work in passing a 
hate crimes bill.

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