Washington - President Obama urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass hate-crimes legislation quickly.
The House is scheduled to vote this week on the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (the Matthew Shepard Act), which would permit greater 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.
Last night, President Obama issued a statement to urge the quick passing of the bill by the House this week:
"This 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." White House.
The bipartisan Senate bill is being carried by Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine. Other cosponsors include Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who switched his affiliation Tuesday from Republican to Democrat.
U/D:
Hate-crimes legislation passes House
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act by a vote of 249-175.
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