Washington, D.C., May 26, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed Congress' reintroduction of a bill to expand federal hate crime protections. The Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2005, also known as the Local Law Enforcement Act, would enable federal authorities to assist local prosecutions, and where appropriate, investigate and prosecute cases in which bias-motivated violence occurs because of the victim's race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

"We are pleased that this bill is being introduced with strong support early in the 109th Congress," said Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We recognize that enactment of this important bill will be a challenge, but we fully intend to continue our leadership role in coordinating a coalition of law enforcement, civic, religious and civil rights groups on behalf of this essential legislation."

The Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2005 has previously received bipartisan majority support in both the House and Senate, despite the fact that on two occasions in the past, the House Republican leadership has stripped these hate crime provisions from legislation during Senate-House conferences. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have adopted hate crimes laws, many based on ADL model legislation.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.