[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 52 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HATE CRIMES

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I share the disappointment of many that 
the Republican leadership has delayed calling up the sex offender 
registration bill. The House passed its version last September and the 
Senate Judiciary Committee reported a much improved version to the full 
Senate last October.
  When the House passed its bill, it approved an amendment to improve 
the Federal hate crimes laws as well. The Senate bill does not include 
that provision, but many of us had hoped to add it as an amendment. I 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  The inclusion of the Federal hate crimes law is not inconsistent with 
the goals of the legislation to stop crimes against children. We can 
clearly do more to protect our communities and encourage them to do so. 
Hate crimes are a violation of everything our country stands for. These 
are crimes against entire communities, against the whole Nation, and 
against the fundamental ideals on which America was founded, and they 
have a major impact on children. The vast majority of Congress agrees.
  Last year, Senator Smith and I offered our hate crimes bill as an 
amendment to the Defense Authorization Act, and it passed by a 
bipartisan vote of 65 to 33. The House passed a nearly identical hate 
crimes amendment by a vote of 223 to 199, which made it part of its sex 
offender registration bill. The substantial majority of both Houses of 
Congress have now voted in favor of the hate crimes proposal, and the 
time is long overdue to pass these protections into law.
  The hate crimes bill is supported by a broad coalition. Over 200 law 
enforcement and civil rights groups, including the National District 
Attorneys Association, the National Sheriff's Association, and the 
National Association of Chiefs of Police, the Anti-Defamation League, 
and the U.S. Council of Mayors.
  A strong Federal role in prosecuting hate crimes is essential for 
both practical and symbolic reasons. In practical terms, the bill will 
have a real world impact on the actual criminal investigations and 
prosecution. The symbolic value of the bill is equally important. Hate 
crimes target whole communities, not just individuals. Attacking people 
because they are gay, African American, Arab or Muslim or Jewish, or 
any other criteria is bigotry at its worst. We must say loudly and 
clearly to those inclined to commit them that they will go to prison if 
they do.
  The vast majority of us in Congress recognize the importance of 
passing a hate crimes bill. This year we can make the statement even 
clearer by turning it into law.

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