[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need 
for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I 
introduced the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a bill that would 
add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that 
violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
  I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in 
Washington, D.C. On August 16, 2003, Elvys Augusto Perez, 25, was shot 
and killed. Mr. Perez was an immigrant from Guatemala who dressed and 
lived as a woman. Police have classified the first-degree murder as a 
hate crime.
  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 is a symbol that can become substance. I 
believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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