From: HRCFCOMM@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 16:27:32 -0500 Subject: KEY SENATE PANEL TO KICK OFF RENEWAL OF LANDMARK HATE CRIMES ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 13, 1996 KEY SENATE PANEL TO KICK OFF RENEWAL OF LANDMARK HATE CRIMES STATISTICS ACT Witnesses From Law Enforcement, Civil Rights Groups to Testify For Extending Popular Bipartisan Crime Legislation FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.hrcusa.org Washington -- A key Senate panel has scheduled a hearing for a bill to renew the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, a landmark law requiring the Department of Justice to collect data on bias-motivated crimes involving prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity and disability. The hearing will take place in Washington at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The Senate Judiciary Committee -- chaired by Utah Republican Orrin Hatch, the bill's lead sponsor -- will hear from a broad-based coalition representing local law enforcement officials and mayors, as well as civil rights, gay and religious organizations supporting the measure. Witnesses from the FBI, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and the Leadership Conference Education Fund, a research arm of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, will present testimony for the bill, soon to be introduced in the Senate by Hatch and Illinois Democrat Paul Simon. "Hate crimes against lesbian and gay people and other communities continue to be a national epidemic," said Human Rights Campaign Senior Policy Advocate Nancy Buermeyer. "By documenting these outrageous attacks through ongoing federal monitoring, the Hate Crimes Statistics Act provides the critical information local law enforcement needs when deciding how best to respond to these crimes." In 1994 alone, the Justice Department reported 5,852 bias-motivated incidents under the law, ranging from harassment to physical assault and even murder. Of these occurrences, 780 involved prejudice based on sexual orientation. Attorney General Janet Reno has issued a statement supporting the law's permanent renewal, and has directed the FBI to continue collecting hate-crimes data in the interim since the law expired last December. "When personal bigotry becomes public bashing, Americans draw the line," asserted Buermeyer, expressing optimism about the bill's prospects. "Despite all of our differences, we unite as a nation when people are targeted by hate violence simply because of who they are." With overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress originally passed the Hate Crimes Statistics Act in 1990 by a vote of 92-4 in the Senate and 368-17 in the House. It was signed into law by President Bush, making it the first piece of federal legislation ever to include sexual orientation within its scope. The Human Rights Campaign is fully mobilizing its members and working with its coalition partners for renewal of the law, and encourages all fair-minded Americans to contact their senators at (202) 224-3121 to voice their support. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 - ________________________________________________________