Smith Will Introduce Amendment to Expand Federal Law to
Include Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Disability
Washington, DC – Today, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) announced that he and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) will introduce the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act as an amendment to the FY 2004 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (S. 925).
"A government's first duty is to protect and defend its citizens. Our laws should do that by reflecting our highest values," said Smith. "Over the past several years, Americans have been listening with their hearts, not just their ears, and they are ready for a hate crimes bill. If passing it as an amendment to another bill is what it takes, let's do it and let the potential victims of hate crimes know that the federal government is on their side."
Since 1969, 18 U.S.C. §245 has permitted federal prosecution of hate crimes motivated by race, religion, national origin, or color, if the victim was engaging in one of six "federally protected" activities. It has become clear that the statute needs to be amended. To this end, Senators Kennedy and Smith introduced the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. The legislation would broaden federal jurisdiction to include hate crimes that cause death or bodily injury and add sexual orientation, gender, and disability to the covered categories of hate crimes.
"This bill sends a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is now a symbol that can become substance," said Smith. "When someone is targeted because of who they are, it is an attack on their entire community, and no less an act of terrorism."
Senator Smith first sponsored the bill with Senator Kennedy in 1999 and again in 2001 and 2003. It was also introduced as an amendment to legislation in both 1999 and 2000.
