Senate Proceeding on Oct 22nd, 2009 :: 4:46:15 to 4:51:20
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4:46:15 to 4:46:36( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: that's nearly one every hour of every over 150 of those instances occurred in my home state of maryland. the passage of the legislation demonstrates that the united states congress is fighting for people like steven johns who was killed at t u.s. holocaust museum, for lawrence king, a 15-year-old student murdered in his high school because he was

4:46:15 to 4:51:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

4:46:37 to 4:46:58( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: gay, for james byrd who was beaten and dragged by a truck for two miles because he was black, and for the 28-year-old california woman who was gang raped by four men because she was a lesbian. today we stand up and say no more, no longer shall we tolerate these types of actions. during the recent confirmation hearing of justice sonia

4:46:59 to 4:47:19( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: sotomayor, i spoke about the importance of standing up against hate. i expressed the importance of a justice in a court that would continue to move forward in protecting civil rights and not turning back the clock. i hope the court will stand up with us against such actions and continue to protect important civil rights laws. according to a recent leadership

4:47:20 to 4:47:41( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: conference on civil rights, education fund report entitled "confronting the new faces of hate," hate crimes against latinos have been increasing steadily since 2003. this marked increase also closely correlates with the increase -- increasing heated debate over comprehensive immigration reform. there was also a five-year high

4:47:42 to 4:48:02( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: in victimization rates in 2007 towards lesbian, gays, bisexuals, and transagendaered individuals. that number has increased by almost 6%. the number of white supremacy groups have increased by 54% and af experience the largest number of hate crimes. with an annual number

4:48:03 to 4:48:24( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: essentially unchanged over the past 10 years. ligious-based offenses decreased, the number of antijewish crimes increased slightly between 2006-2007. the matthew shepard hate crime prevention act is a necessary and appropriate response to this ongoing threat to our communities. currently 45 states in the district of columbia have

4:48:25 to 4:48:45( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: enacted hate crime laws and have taken stands against hate in their own states. 31 of those states have already included sexual orientation in their definition of what constitutes a hate crime. 27 states in the district of columbia prohibit violence -- violent crimes based upon a victim's gender.

4:48:46 to 4:49:06( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: states have a patchwork of hate crime statutes which leave gaps which need to be filled order to have an effective response and prosecution of these crimes. the federal government has a clear responsibility to respond to hate crimes. current federal hate crime laws are based only on race, color, national origin and religion. we need to include gender,

4:49:07 to 4:49:28( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: disability -- gender identity and sexual orientation. current law also requires the victim to be participating in a federally protected activity like attending school or voting. those who commit hate crimes are not bound to certain jurisdictions, and neither should the people who prosecute them, which is why this legislation removes the requirement that a victim be

4:49:29 to 4:49:50( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: participating in a federally protected activity. the matthew shepard he crimes prevention act will make sure that all americans are equally protected against hate crimes. the legislation will provide necessary resources to our state andocal governments to fight hate crimes. specifically, it will provide grants for state, local, and tribal law enforcement entities

4:49:51 to 4:50:11( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: for prosecuting, programming, and education related hate crimes prosecution and prevention. the bill will assist states and provide them with additional resources, not diminish their role in managing crimi activities within their own states. the bill supplements state and local law enforcement efforts. additionally and most importantly, the legislation was

4:50:12 to 4:50:32( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: carefully drafted to maintain protections for americans' amendment rights. nothing in this legislation diminishes an american freedom of religion, freedom of speech or press or the freedom to assemble it. the supreme court has already ruled that such laws do not strike free speech.

4:50:33 to 4:50:53( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: let me be clear. the matthew shepard hate crimes prevention act targets acts, not speech. hate crimes affect not just the victim. they victimize the entire community and make residents fearful. we cannot allow our communities to be terrorized by hatred and violence. today we told true to our promise for a better tomorrow.

4:50:54 to 4:51:09( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: with that, mr. president, i would yield the floor and suggest the absence of a the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.