DeGette Lauds House Passage of Hate Crimes Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today supported H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which passed on a strong bipartisan vote of 249 to 175. This bill is focused on giving state and local law enforcement the tools and resources they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

"Everyone in this country deserves a chance to pursue the American dream free from intimidation and persecution," said U.S. Rep. DeGette, who is Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and cosponsor of the measure. "Every hate crime is an attack on the liberty and equality valued by every American. This legislation will provide state and local law enforcement agencies with resources they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, while also protecting the exercise of free speech and religious expression provided under our Constitution."

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act also extends existing protections to more Americans. The current federal hate crimes law authorizes federal aid in cases of hate crimes committed because of a person's race, color, religion, or national origin. This bill closes gaps in federal law to combat hate crimes committed because of a person's gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.