Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today backed bipartisan legislation to give state and local law enforcement expanded tools to prevent and prosecute hate crimes.  H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which passed 249-175, would expand existing federal laws to cover crimes committed because of an individual’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.  The legislation will also allow the federal government to provide support, and in some cases funding, to state and local law enforcement agencies who are involved in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.  Woolsey, a strong supporter of equal rights initiatives, and an opponent of Proposition Eight, took to the House floor this afternoon and urged her colleagues to support the legislation:

“The bill before us today, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act, is about protecting every member of our community from violence.  We understand that hate crimes don’t just affect the victims of these horrible acts, but they threaten the fundamental rights of us all.

“Intolerance and prejudice are still a part of our world, but when that bigotry leads to violence, this Congress has a responsibility to stand up and say ‘no more.’  With this bill, we will extend and expand on the protections for victims of hate crimes to victims of crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. All children and their families should have the freedom to celebrate who they are, protected under federal law from personal attacks based on bigotry.

“The time has come for Congress to pass this bill to send a clear message throughout the world that violence and hate are not acceptable. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this historic legislation that will reaffirm our commitment tolerance, compassion, and fundamental protections for all Americans.”