Hate Crimes Bill Passes House

Thursday, May 03, 2007 Washington, DC - Today, the National Stonewall Democrats applauded the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the United States House of Representatives. The action quickly drew a premature veto threat from the White House, although the legislation still needs to be approved by the United States Senate. The legislation would apply equal federal resources to domestic terror crimes that target an individual based on disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity. Currently, these resources are only provided to local law enforcement agencies if a crime targets an individual based on race, color, national origin or religion. "By issuing a premature veto threat, President Bush fails to understand that he is not the sole decider regarding the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act," said Jo Wyrick, NSD Executive Director. "Once again, the majority of American oppose the position of the President, and that is why we are urging the Senate Leadership to quickly move on this important legislation. We need Senate Democrats to step up before President Bush can step down." The legislation passed the United States House of Representatives by a 237 to 180 vote. The vast majority of Democrats (212) voted for the legislation along with 25 Republicans. 166 Republicans voted against the bill, joined by only 14 Democratic members. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would extend federal grants to local law enforcement agencies in order to more thoroughly investigate and prosecute domestic terror crimes that target individuals based on disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity. Under existing hate crimes laws, such grants are routinely provided to local agencies for similar crimes which target victims based on race, color, national origin or religion.