I commend Senator Kennedy for his leadership in this effort over the years.
I would just say, therefore, that when we now carve out a different class of people that may also deserve that kind of protection, we need, ...
We did pass the Federal hate crime legislation in 1968 in the wake of the assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King.
If the States had the capacity to deal with this issue, that's the preferred route.
On June 24, 2009, Senator Leahy introduced the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009, of which I am a cosponsor.
I believe that accountability is important and that access to the courts for those alleging wrongdoing by the Government is crucial.
I believe strongly that we can ensure our safety and security. We can bring our enemies to justice.
I believe in that debate, political rhetoric has drowned out reason and reality.
I want to make sure we have accurate views of what is happening.
I had objected to it because I felt there was a lack of adequate protections in it.
I do not know how we reauthorize any of these things if they are going to be abused that way.