[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT OF 2007

  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 February 7, 2006 in San Diego, CA, James Hardy strangled Raymund 
Catolico, a gay man, to death in the victim's apartment. Allegedly, the 
two men met at a bus station and went to Catolico's apartment to have 
drinks and play video games. At some point Hardy attacked Catolico 
strangling him to death. Following the murder, Hardy went out for food 
and brought it back to the apartment to finish playing his computer 
game. According to Deputy District Attorney Dan Link, Catolico's 
sexuality was, ``a substantial motivation'' for the killing. Hardy is 
charged with a hate crime and is being held without bail.
  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 Matthew 
Shepard 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.

                          ____________________