Stiffer penalties for bias-related crimes could be enacted soon, as the Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to pass a hate-crimes bill.
The Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act would increase federal penalties for crimes motivated by a victim’s race, religion, nationality, gender or sexual orientation.
The legislation, backed by the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish groups, passed the House earlier this year.
The 95-4 Senate vote Nov. 4 was hailed by Jewish groups.
The bill faces one more vote in the Senate before the legislation heads for a House-Senate conference committee.
The bill was appended to the crime bill being considered in the Senate.
The House bill is virtually identical to the Senate bill.
Similar hate-crimes legislation was defeated in the Senate last year.
Supporters had been concerned that some in the Senate would reject the bill because it included protection for sexual orientation.
But this year’s legislation was bolstered by a recent Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of a Wisconsin hate-crimes law.
The legislation’s chief sponsors in Congress are Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).
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