[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 2009

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Local Law 
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1913). This bill makes a 
profound statement that this country will not tolerate violence 
motivated by bigotry and ignorance against its citizens. I commend 
Chairman Conyers for bringing this legislation to the floor.
  The message of this bill is clear: the United States will not 
tolerate hate crimes. These crimes are unlike other violent acts of 
randomness. Targeting people because of their race, religion, 
ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or disability is a form of 
domestic terrorism. Such violent crimes send a chilling message to 
entire communities that they are not welcome and that intolerance and 
ignorance is alive and well.
  Since 1991, the FBI has received more than 118,000 reports of hate 
crimes and we know that crimes of this nature are frequently 
underreported. Current federal law covers crimes committed based on a 
person's race, color, religion, or national origin. H.R. 1913 extends 
federal protection to include hate crimes committed because of a 
person's gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. 
This bill allows the federal government to provide needed federal 
resources to state and local law enforcement officials to prosecute 
hate crimes and also authorizes grants to law enforcement agencies that 
have incurred expenses investigating and prosecuting hate crime cases.
  Some opponents of H.R. 1913 have suggested that this bill legislates 
against thoughts and ideas. This is absolutely false. H.R. 1913 
provides local authorities more effective means to prosecute violent 
acts of hate, not thoughts or speech. In fact, this bill explicitly 
includes First Amendment free speech protections for persons accused of 
acts of hate.
  My first vote as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 
was for equal rights on housing and employment for the gay, lesbian, 
bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) community. As a Member of Congress, I 
have now voted for similar federal four times. The Local Law 
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act must become law so that all 
Americans can fully participate in and enjoy the rights of a democratic 
society.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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