Specter Applauds Passage of Hate Crimes Act

Press Release

Specter Applauds Passage of Hate Crimes Act

Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), a long-time advocate of hate crimes prevention legislation, today commented on the Senate passage of the Department of Defense Authorization conference report which contains language making it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity:

"I am delighted to see that the long, hard battle, which began in 1997 with the Kennedy-Specter Hate Crimes Bill, has finally come to fruition.

"There is no place in America for hate, and this landmark legislation addresses one of the most heinous forms of criminal conduct--incidents against individuals or property motivated by hatred based on race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

"Hate crimes are uniquely destructive and divisive because they injure not only the immediate victim, but the community and entire nation. It's long overdue that we enact legislation that will bring justice to those who commit violent crimes based on bigotry and prejudice."

Senator Specter has worked tirelessly throughout his career to pass legislation that punishes and prevents violent crimes on the basis of someone's disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Senator Specter was an original cosponsor of the 1997 Hate Crimes Prevention Act with Senator Ted Kennedy. In 1990, Senator Specter was an original cosponsor of the Hate Crime Statistics Act, a bill designed to develop a data base from which to determine the extent, severity, and location of the activity.

The bill will now be sent to President for his signature.

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