New York, NY, October 22, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today hailed the Senate's passage of a national hate crimes bill as a "landmark achievement."

The House of Representatives approved the legislation on October 8, and President Obama has said he will sign the measure, which provides new authority for federal officials to more effectively address hate violence.

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: 

The Senate's final approval of the Hate Crime Prevention Act is a landmark achievement in the decades-long effort to combat hate violence – and cause for celebration.  This legislation is the most important, comprehensive and inclusive federal hate crime law enacted in the past 40 years.  We look forward to President Obama signing it into law.

 

Hate crimes are a very real problem in our society.  When victims are targeted for their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other immutable characteristics, the attack also affects a broader community.

 

The United States Congress is sending a strong message that bias-motivated attacks are unacceptable and warrant serious, sustained efforts to address them.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act (HCPA) passed the Senate as part of the FY 2010 Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report, by a vote of 68-29.  The key vote was on a motion to end a possible filibuster by opponents of the hate crime provisions, which passed 64-35.