President Obama urged the House yesterday to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, legislation favored by numerous Jewish groups. The measure would expand federal involvement in investigating hate crimes and expand the federal definition of such crimes to include those motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. Here’s his statement:
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON H.R. 1913, THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HATE
CRIMES PREVENTION ACT OF 2009This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association. I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to finalize this bill and to take swift action.
The legislation is likely to pass the House by a comfortable margin — in a conference call sponsored by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs on Tuesday, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) projected it should get upwards of 250 votes — and it has previously won majorities in the Senate. But the bill, which has been pushed by supporters for about a decade, has been eliminated in conference committees when attached to larger bills — under the threat of veto from former President George W. Bush. But with Obama backing the legislation, chances for it achieving final passage appear stronger.
Nadler and Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the ADL, said on the conference call that some opposition to the bill has come from critics who claim that it would criminalize religious speech, such as criticism of gays and lesbians. But Lieberman emphasized that’s not true, and there’s specific language in the bill to make sure of it.
"This bill cannot punish mere speech," said Lieberman.
the bill requires a violent crime"The bill requires a violent crime, bodily injury."
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
