Nancy Pelosi: “I rise to support Representative Serrano's amendment to increase funding to enforce and protect the civil rights of all…”

“I rise to support Representative Serrano's amendment to increase funding to enforce and protect the civil rights of all Americans. The Majority bill cuts funding from President Clinton's request for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and would force the Civil Rights Division to reduce its current services. It would also reduce funding for other vital civil rights initiatives. We must take every possible step to ensure that the Civil Rights of all Americans are protected. I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment and provide the needed civil rights funding. This bill lacks funding for many significant civil rights activities. For example, it lacks funds to investigate law enforcement patterns and practices to address policy brutality. It lacks funds to fight abuse and neglect in nursing homes, juvenile detention facilities, and mental health facilities. It lacks funds to address expected voting rights cases resulting from the Census. It also lacks funds to aggressively investigate and prosecute hate crimes. These initiatives are all very important. Why does the Majority bill ignore these needs? What is more important than investigating abuse in nursing homes of our vulnerable seniors? Given cases like the recent episode in New York City which terrorized and sexually assaulted more than 50 women, why can't we fund investigations of potential hate crimes against these women?”