[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22603]
[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 7, 2003, in Largo, FL, Reshae McCauley, a 30-year-old 
transgender person, visited Z109, a local club. The following evening 
Reshae's body was discovered near her home where she had died of severe 
upper body trauma. According to police, the apparent motivation for the 
attack was her sexual orientation.
  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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