[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21956-21957]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce 
hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate 
crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable 
in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to 
highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
  On December 10, 1999, a 34-year-old man walked into the Fort Myers, 
FL, home of a 91-year-old disabled woman and sexually assaulted her. 
According to police, the man knew the victims family and attacked her 
because of her disabled state.
  I believe that the 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

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current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

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