Appointment of Conferees on H.R. 4200, National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2005
APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 4200, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005 -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2004)
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4200) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.
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Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of our Democratic leader's motion.
It is tragic that hate crimes occur, but they do; and it is irresponsible and naive to deny that there are people out there who seek to commit violence against others because they are gay, lesbian or transgender, because they are female, because they have a disability. It happens far too often, and we must not be silent about it.
Enactment of Federal hate crimes protections is important for both substantive and symbolic reasons. The legal protections are essential to our system of ordered justice; but on a symbolic basic, it is important that Congress enunciate clearly that hate-motivated violence based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability is wrong. Because, quite frankly, too much of what we have been doing in this Chamber conveys the message that we really do not believe in full equality for all, and it is sort of like a wink and a nod that maybe a little discrimination is okay.
I want to speak briefly about why hate crimes differ from other violent crimes. A senior Republican Member of the other body said a few years ago, "A crime committed not just to harm an individual, but out of motive of sending a message of hatred to an entire community is appropriately punished more harshly, or in a different manner, than other crimes."
Hate crimes are different than other violent crimes because they seek to instill fear and terror throughout a whole community, be it burning a cross in someone's yard, the burning of a synagogue, or a rash of physical assaults near a gay community center. This sort of domestic terrorism demands a strong Federal response because this country was founded on the premise that persons should be free to be who they are without fear of violence.
The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act should stay in the defense authorization bill. For too long this body has failed to act to prevent or respond to hate crimes. We have the opportunity today to say something and do something about it.
I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this motion.
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