[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11264]
[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 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 on September 
15, 2001, in Houston, TX. Upon leaving a nightclub in southwest 
Houston, a Hispanic man was confronted by a group of nine men. The 
group assaulted and beat the man while shouting racial epithets and 
comments about Osama bin Laden.
  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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