House passes measure expanding categories for hate crimes News
House passes measure expanding categories for hate crimes

[JURIST] The US House of Representatives approved a measure Wednesday that would add sexual orientation, gender, and disability to a current federal hate crimes law that already prohibits crimes based on the victim's race, ethnicity, or religion. The legislation was proposed by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) [official website] and passed by a margin of 223-199 [House roll call]. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) [official website] called the measure "long overdue" saying, "All Americans have a fundamental right to feel safe in their communities." The measure was sent through the House as an amendment to a sex offender bill [PDF text, HR 3132], which passed by a margin of 371-52 [House roll call] Wednesday. That legislation is designed to bolster sex offender registration and notification programs, create a national website allowing the public to track sex offenders [JURIST report], and establish federal mandatory minimum sentences for violations by sex offenders. The sex offender bill will now be handed over to the Senate for approval. AP has more.