[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 25222]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                IN SUPPORT OF HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today and speak in favor 
of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 which is cosponsored by 
myself and 184 of my colleagues in this House.
  Just a few weeks ago, our country was shocked when a gunman entered a 
Jewish community center in Los Angeles, shooting at innocent children. 
His intent, and I quote, ``sending a message by killing Jews.'' What 
kind of message was he sending? A message of hatred.
  One year ago yesterday, in Laramie, Wyoming, a young man named 
Matthew Shepard was killed. The reason? Because he was gay.
  In Jasper, Texas, a man was murdered and dragged through the streets 
because he was an African-American.
  All of these incidents are hate crimes. They do not just affect the 
group that was killed, they affect each and every one of us.
  This is especially troubling to me because of the rash of anti-
immigrant billboards and posters in my district of late which falsely 
blame immigrants for all of society's problems. Having spent my entire 
life in Queens County in New York, I recognize the problems faced on a 
daily basis by minorities who strive to eliminate any form of 
discrimination still present in our society. Unfortunately, the 
billboards of late only tell that discrimination is alive and well.
  I believe the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 is a constructive 
and measured response to a problem that continues to plague our Nation. 
Violence motivated by prejudice. This legislation is also needed 
because many States lack comprehensive hate crime laws.
  I understand there are some people who believe that hate should not 
be an issue when prosecuting a crime. They say our laws already punish 
the criminal act and that our laws are strong enough as is. I answer 
with the most recent figures from 1997, when 8,049 hate crimes were 
reported in the United States, 8,049 crimes, because of hate. According 
to the FBI, hate crimes are underreported. So the actual figure is 
much, much higher.
  I say to my colleagues, penalties for committing a murder are 
increased if the murder happens during the commission of a crime. 
Murdering a police officer is considered first degree murder, even if 
there was no premeditation. Committing armed robbery carries a higher 
punishment than petty larceny. There are degrees to crimes. Local 
governments and State governments and the Federal Government recognize 
that. And committing a crime against someone because of their race, 
color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or other group 
should warrant a different penalty. These crimes are designed to send a 
message, ``We don't like your kind and here is what we're going to do 
about it.'' So why can we not punish crimes motivated by hate 
differently than other crimes?
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation does not punish free speech as some 
have contended. Nowhere does it say you cannot hold a certain political 
belief or view or a particular philosophy. What it does say is that if 
you commit a violent act because of those beliefs, you will be punished 
and punished differently.
  Hate crime laws are also constitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court's 
ruling in Wisconsin v. Mitchell unanimously upheld a Wisconsin statute 
which gave enhanced sentences to a defendant who intentionally selects 
a victim because of the person's race, religion, color, disability, 
sexual orientation, sex or nation of origin.
  I believe we ought to stand up as a Congress and as a country to pass 
the Hate Crimes Prevention Act to make our laws tougher for the people 
who carry out these heinous crimes.
  The Senate has already included it as part of the fiscal year 2000 
Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill. I would urge the House 
conferees to recede to the Senate on this section. At the very least, 
H.R. 1082 should be brought to the House floor for consideration. We 
must end the hate that is permeating our society.

                          ____________________