"One year later, we stand on the House floor empty handed, unable to provide any real comfort to the mothers and fathers of the Matthew Shepards of our Nation. One year later, we stand on the House floor to mourn the death of Matthew, yet, fail to honor his life in any meaningful way. One year later, we are working to ensure that the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 becomes the law of the land, yet a real threat exists that we may not succeed. 

"Mr. Speaker, it is not fair to the families of America. It is not fair to the families who have lost a loved one as a result of hate.  It is not fair for those families to have to wait for Congress to recognize their need and honor the lives of the loved ones they lost. It is not fair for Congress to remain silent while they loudly demand action. 

"Hate can occur in any community. In Jasper, Texas, three white men dragged a 49-year-old black man for two miles while he was chained to the back of a pickup truck. In Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, a 21-year-old Private First Class was brutally beaten with a baseball bat in his barracks because he was gay.  

"In my district over the Fourth of July weekend, hate erupted with a vengeance. A madman full of rage and with a gun took the life of two men and forever changed the lives of many families.  This madman left us grieving for Ricky Byrdsong and his family and Woo-Joon Yoon, an Asian student from Bloomington, Indiana, and angry for the assault on Jewish men peacefully observing the Sabbath. 

"Ricky Byrdsong lived in Skokie, Illinois, in my district. He was a loving husband, a father, a leader in the community, a former basketball coach at Northwestern University, a man of deep religious faith, and a constituent. He was murdered in cold blood.  His only crime was the color of his skin. He was African-American. 

"Many skeptics say we do not need this bill. But tell that to the family of Ricky Byrdsong or Matthew Shepard. 

"I urge my House colleagues on the Commerce-State-Justice Conference Committee to agree to include the Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the final bill. We must expand and improve the Federal hate crimes law and punish those who choose their victims based on race or gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical disability. 

"This act would make it easier for Federal law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute cases of racial and religious violence.  State and local authorities currently prosecute the majority of hate crimes and will continue to do so under this legislation.
Keeping the Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the appropriations bill will increase Federal jurisdiction to allow Federal officials to assist State and local authorities to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. It will also provide State and local programs with grants designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. 

"While serving in the Illinois State House, my colleagues and I were successful in strengthening State laws dealing with hate crimes. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues here in Congress to translate successes on the State level to the national stage. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is such an opportunity to send a clear and powerful message that the safety of all people is a priority and anyone who threatens that safety will face the consequences. 

"As a Member of Congress who represents one of the most diverse districts in the Nation, I strongly believe that we must ensure the passage of this act. Hate crimes, if left unchecked, not only victimize our citizens but debase and shame us all."