[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7219-7220]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2001

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate 
crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy last month. The 
Local law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current 
hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is 
unacceptable in our society.
  Today, Mr. President, I would like to detail a heinous crime that 
occurred June 10, 2000 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A man in a minivan 
yelling obscenities ran down participants in a gay pride parade. One 
victim was hit

[[Page 7220]]

twice in the knees and thrown off the hood. The perpetrator tried to 
swerve into the crowd, which included small children, three times 
before police pulled him out of the vehicle and arrested him.
  I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens--to 
defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law 
Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become 
substance. I believe that by passing this legislation, we can change 
hearts and minds as well.

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