Thomas Foley: “I, too, join today in urging Congress to, not only debate the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, but pass it. We should no…”

“I, too, join today in urging Congress to, not only debate the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, but pass it. We should no longer in America tolerate racial hatred, bigotry, crimes against persons because of their sexual orientation. We are America. We are a proud country. But, regrettably, deaths like James Byrd, which occurred 2 years ago today, still occur in America, the death of Matthew Shepard, the death of so many others based on their color, their race, their ethnicity, or their orientation. Shamefully, America witnesses once again every day another dimension of killing in this country. But only if Congress speaks loudly against violence and specifically against violence perpetrated because of hate will we only cleanse our souls and urge our Nation to move forward in a better, more positive spirit. So I urge my leaders to consider bringing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act to the floor so that we can debate this in the well, in this Chamber, and pass it on behalf of all Americans.”