Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. form letter to constituent, 2001

FIELD(letterdate) FIELD(nameline) FIELD(title) FIELD(organization 1 ) FIELD(organization2) FIELD(addressl) FIELD(address2) FIELD(address3) FIELD(address4) IFNOTBLANK(city)FIELD(city), FIELD(state) FIELD(zip9)ENDIF Dear FIELD(salutation2b): Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 625, Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 . I benefit by knowing your views on this important issue. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced S. 625 on March 27, 2001. This legislation would expand federal jurisdiction over "hate crimes," or crimes perceived to be motivated by race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. It directs the Attorney General to give priority to those crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one state. As you know, murder and assault are illegal in all fifty states regardless of the perpetrator’s motives. Such violent acts demand swift action, with those found guilty by a jury of their peers to be punished to the fullest extent of state law. Further, current federal law prohibits the use of force against any person because of his race, color, religion, or national origin in an effort to prevent the victim from engaging in the activities protected by the federal civil rights laws. These activities include enrolling in and attending a public school, traveling in or using a facility of interstate commerce, and enjoying the goods and services of certain public accommodations. Last year, supporters in the Senate sought to expand this statute by attaching two amendments to H.R. 4205, the Defense Reauthorization Act. The first amendment, also introduced by Senator Kennedy, removes the requirement that the victim show the defendant committed the offense while the victim was participating in one of the "federally protected activities." This amendment, however, was removed before former President Clinton signed the legislation in September of 2000. S. 625, like the amendment proposed last year by Senator Kennedy, proposes that in