Asa Hutchinson: “Mr. Speaker, I rise in respectful opposition to the motion to instruct conferees. I think it is important to remember at…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in respectful opposition to the motion to instruct conferees. I think it is important to remember at this juncture that this provision is attached to the Defense authorization bill, and this is the Kennedy hate crimes legislation. It was not part of the House package. It was not considered in the House. I say that because I know that we do that in this body, where something is considered in the Senate, it is considered in the conference; but it certainly is something that has not been considered and debated in this body. I think that makes a difference as we consider this motion to instruct. Let me first look at what this Kennedy amendment in the Defense authorization bill provides. It is the hate crimes amendment. It is what the motion to instruct binds this body to support in the conference. It, first of all, expands the protected groups to include gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Now, what is important to remember is that we already have a Federal crime. There is a Federal crime to interfere with anyone's exercise of a federally protected activity.”