Federal
hate crimes bill introduced in HouseMeasure lets feds prosecute bias-motivated violence
Federal
hate crimes bill introduced in House
Measure lets feds prosecute
bias-motivated violence
By CHRIS JOHNSON,
Washington Blade | Apr 3, 10:01 AM
Legislation that would allow the federal
government to prosecute bias-motivated violence against LGBT people was
introduced Thursday in the U.S. House.
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the legislation, H.R. 1913. As of Friday, the bill had 42 co-sponsors.
The legislation would allow the Justice Department to assist in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes committed against LGBT people that result in death or serious injury. The federal government could lend its assistance to local authorities or take the lead in cases if local officials are unwilling or unable to prosecute the cases.
The bill also would make grants available to state and local communities to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officials and conduct investigations of hate crimes.
During his campaign last year, President Obama pledged to support the legislation.
Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, praised the introduction of the legislation in a statement.
“After more than a decade of delay,” he said, “it’s time to provide local police and sheriffs’ departments with the full resources of the Justice Department to address vicious hate crimes.”
Conyers’ office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the introduction of the bill.
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) is expected to introduce a companion bill in the Senate. Anthony Coley, a Kennedy spokesperson, said the senator “plans to introduce this very important piece of legislation soon,” but did not offer a specific timeline.
HRC has called on Obama to work with Congress to pass hate crimes legislation within six months of his administration. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the longest-serving openly gay lawmaker in Congress, earlier told the Blade he expects the House to pass the legislation in the spring and that Congress will have the bill on Obama’s desk by summer.
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