[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE ``HATE CRIMES STATISTICS IMPROVEMENT ACT''

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today, along with Representatives Raul 
Grijalva, Henry Waxman, Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Fortney Pete Stark, 
and Elijah Cummings, I am reintroducing the ``Hate Crimes Statistics 
Improvement Act'' which will ensure that hate crimes motivated by 
gender are accounted for by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies. 
With accurate data, local communities can identify gender-based hate 
crimes in their area, ensure that the prosecution of such crimes is a 
priority, and chart their progress toward eliminating them.
  In states with gender-based hate crimes laws, prosecutors typically 
must present concrete evidence that the criminal act was committed due 
to gender bias. Because not all crimes against women are gender-based 
crimes, prosecutors should have discretion in identifying what 
constitutes a gender-based hate crime. By collecting data on gender-
based hate crimes, we send the message that we will not tolerate the 
violence targeted toward women throughout our country.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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