Congressman Gregory Meeks Votes In Favor of Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

(WASHINGTON, DC)–Today, Congressman Gregory Meets voted in favor H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, a bill that will help protect Americans from hate crimes through a federal hate crimes statute.

H.R. 1913 is a bipartisan measure that has passed in Congress several times over the last few years by bipartisan majorities. The legislation is focused on giving state and local law enforcement the tools and resources they need to prevent and prosecute hate crimes. Additionally, H.R. 1913 will close gaps in federal law to help combat hate crimes committed because of a person’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

“I am pleased with the proposed outcomes of this bill that will give our law enforcement officers the tools to prosecute hate crimes and provide the victims of these crimes an opportunity for justice. This bill was long overdue and will close the gap of a 40 year old law,” stated Congressman Gregory Meeks.

Under current law, the government can only investigate hate crimes that are motivated by the victim’s race, color, religion or national origin. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act extends federal jurisdiction to hate crimes motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability, and provides assistance to state and local law enforcement to streamline the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act was supported by more than 300 law enforcement, religious, civil rights, disability, and other key law enforcement groups such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriff’s Association, Police Executive Research Forum, Police Foundation and National District Attorneys Association.

“The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act reaffirms the message from Congress that hate crimes will not be tolerated. It is important that all victims of crimes be treated equally and we cannot let hatred and discrimination stand in the way of equal justice for all,” stated Congressman Gregory Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all parts of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Congressman Meeks is the Chairman of the International Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Coalition and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus, OAS Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus.