[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 21985]
[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 January 30, 1999, a 23-year-old disabled man was lured into an 
apartment in Keansburg, NJ. He was subjected to 3 hours of torture at 
the hands of 9 men and women. According to police, the abusers knew the 
man from their neighborhood, and ridiculed him constantly because of 
his disability.
  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 current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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