[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 25, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H4010-H4011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ADDRESSING HEINOUS HATE CRIMES

  (Mr. SWALWELL of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SWALWELL of California. No American should live in fear of 
becoming a victim of a violent hate crime. In my role as the former 
lead hate crimes prosecutor for the Alameda County District Attorney's 
Office, I saw, firsthand, the devastating impact that hate crimes can 
have on our communities.
  Sadly, since taking office I have heard from constituents and leaders 
from the Hindu, Sikh, and Arab American communities about the ongoing 
threats that they face. That is why in March I sent a letter to the FBI 
Advisory Policy Board requesting that the FBI add three additional hate 
crime categories to track anti-Hindu, anti-Sikh, and anti-Arab American 
hate crimes.
  Gathering this information will encourage the affected community 
members to report hate crimes to law enforcement and will help 
strengthen relationships among communities, local and State law 
enforcement, and the FBI.
  I'm happy to report that the policy board followed up on my letter 
and has

[[Page H4011]]

recommended that FBI Director Robert Mueller make these additions. Our 
progress towards addressing heinous hate crimes is possible because of 
groups like the Hindu American Foundation, who have been tireless 
advocates for the safety of their communities.
  I urge Director Mueller to act swiftly on the policy board's 
recommendation. This important step would extend protection to millions 
of Americans.

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