Gillibrand Cosponsors Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

Press Release

In an effort to combat hate crimes, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this week served as an original co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 - legislation to expand federal law to give federal, state, local and tribal governments the strength they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes based on race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

The bill, named after a young man who was fatally beaten in 1998 because of his sexual orientation, provides grants to improve the education and training of local officials to identify, investigate, prosecute and prevent hate crimes. It also expands the type of statistics currently collected by the FBI to improve monitoring of hate crimes.

"It is time for Congress to take a strong stance against all hate crimes, which target an individual based on who they are," Senator Gillibrand. "This bipartisan legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to find, prosecute and bring to justice anyone who commits a hate-motivated crime, and provide critical protection to keep New York communities safe."

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