    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [October 13, 1999]
    [Pages 1766-1767]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Hate Crimes Legislation
    October 13, 1999

        It has been a year since the murder of Matthew Shepard, and 2 years
    since I first proposed to strengthen the Nation's hate crime laws.
    During this time, hundreds of Americans have been injured or killed,
    simply because of who they are. In response to this epidemic of
    violence, people around the country have joined me in calling on
    Congress to pass this important legislation.
        Earlier this year, the Senate passed my legislation, which, if
    enacted, would strengthen current law by making it easier to prosecute
    crimes

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    based on race, color, religion, and national origin and by expanding
    coverage to include crimes based on sexual orientation, gender, and
    disability.
        Congress has the opportunity to complete work on that legislation
    and to send it to me for signature. I call on Congress to do the right
    thing and enact hate crime legislation before the end of this session.
    The Nation cannot afford to wait.