Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Apr 30, 2009 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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• Committee Assignment: House Judiciary

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary committee.
• Committee Assignment: Senate Judiciary

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  This bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee.
This bill's most-recent vote occurred on April 29, 2009, with a roll call of 249 ayes, 175 nays, and 10 not voting.
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This bill's most-recent vote occurred on April 29, 2009, with a roll call of 249 ayes, 175 nays, and 10 not voting.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

OpenCongress Bill Summary

• This bill, previously introduced in Congress in 2007, seeks to expand upon the 1969 US federal hate-crime law by extending hate crime protections to bodily crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in addition to the current protections for bodily crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, and national origin. It would also codify and expand the funding and investigative capabilities of federal officials for aiding their local counterparts. This bill was adopted and signed into law as part of the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3326).

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  Here's a summary from OpenCongress.org: This bill, previously introduced in Congress in 2007, seeks to expand upon the 1969 US federal hate-crime law by extending hate crime protections to bodily crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in addition to the current protections for bodily crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, and national origin. It would also codify and expand the funding and investigative capabilities of federal officials for aiding their local counterparts. This bill was adopted and signed into law as part of the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3326).

Supporting Organizations

• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

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  I know that the organization National Gay and Lesbian Task Force supports H.R.1913
• National Center for Transgender Equality

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  I know that the organization National Center for Transgender Equality supports H.R.1913
• Equality Florida

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  I know that the organization Equality Florida supports H.R.1913
• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

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  I know that the organization Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism supports H.R.1913
• Jewish Council for Public Affairs

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  I know that the organization Jewish Council for Public Affairs supports H.R.1913
• Human Rights Campaign

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  I know that the organization Human Rights Campaign supports H.R.1913
• Anti-Defamation League

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  I know that the organization Anti-Defamation League supports H.R.1913

Opposing Organizations

• American Family Association

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  I know that the organization American Family Association opposes H.R.1913
• Family Research Council

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  I know that the organization Family Research Council opposes H.R.1913

Most-commented sections of the bill text

Highest Rated User Comments

• On April 13, 2009, by txlwyr - You'd be right if practicing their calling includes acts of violence. Moreover, it gives justifications under the commerce clause and the spending clause. There is no explicit restriction on speech of any kind. Nor does it discriminate against any religious group nor codify any religious ideal. Read it first, dude.

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  As noted by txlwyr, a user on OpenCongress.org, on April 13, 2009, "You'd be right if practicing their calling includes acts of violence. Moreover, it gives justifications under the commerce clause and the spending clause. There is no explicit restriction on speech of any kind. Nor does it discriminate against any religious group nor codify any religious ideal. Read it first, dude. "
• On April 15, 2009, by GitNaware - No explicit restrictions on speech or thought... except that it calls it a hate crime and thus assumes that the law can interpret thoughts. My whole problem is that if it is a crime - prosecute the crime and not make standards based on whether there is "real or perceived" hate involved!

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  As noted by GitNaware, a user on OpenCongress.org, on April 15, 2009, "No explicit restrictions on speech or thought... except that it calls it a hate crime and thus assumes that the law can interpret thoughts. My whole problem is that if it is a crime - prosecute the crime and not make standards based on whether there is "real or perceived" hate involved!"
• On April 26, 2009, by prodriver8108 - I tend to agree. Why are we wasting are tax dollars over another bill when there seems to be enough laws to handle those that actually commit a crime. I don't agree with what everyone else says and I'm sure they don't agree with what I say. Does that mean we should be allowed to say it at all. What are we? A bunch of pansies...mama he called be a bad word. LOL Its laughable that grown men and women are actually seriously considering this in Congress.

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  As noted by prodriver8108, a user on OpenCongress.org, on April 26, 2009, "I tend to agree. Why are we wasting are tax dollars over another bill when there seems to be enough laws to handle those that actually commit a crime. I don't agree with what everyone else says and I'm sure they don't agree with what I say. Does that mean we should be allowed to say it at all. What are we? A bunch of pansies...mama he called be a bad word. LOL Its laughable that grown men and women are actually seriously considering this in Congress. "

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Behold The Seven-Headed Romney's Confused Anti-Gay ... - December 13, 2011 by Daniel Villarreal - (aka The Matthew Shepard Act) – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1913/show and http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/223 . Obama signed it. Dec 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm · @Reply Reply to this comment · Flag ...

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  As noted by Daniel Villarreal on December 13, 2011, "(aka The Matthew Shepard Act) – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1913/show and http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/223 . Obama signed it. Dec 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm · @Reply Reply to this comment · Flag ..." (/url?q=http://www.queerty.com/behold-the-seven-headed-romneys-confused-anti-gay-utterances-20111213/&sa=U&ei=HANwT6irOYeC2wWq0YjxAQ&ved=0CEwQmAEwCQ&usg=AFQjCNH1D6FhxQa1PTS9sarJo6rix-cgeA)
• Behold The Seven-Headed Romney's Confused Anti-Gay ... - December 13, 2011 by Daniel Villarreal - (aka The Matthew Shepard Act) – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1913/show and http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/223 . Obama signed it. Dec 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm · @Reply Reply to this comment · Flag ...

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  As noted by Daniel Villarreal on December 13, 2011, "(aka The Matthew Shepard Act) – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1913/show and http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/223 . Obama signed it. Dec 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm · @Reply Reply to this comment · Flag ..." (/url?q=http://www.queerty.com/behold-the-seven-headed-romneys-confused-anti-gay-utterances-20111213/&sa=U&ei=DVxvT6moOLGpsAKM7fD-BQ&ved=0CEwQmAEwCQ&usg=AFQjCNHQ5xEffLnOLy5MbQyNBZGd_Tb-WA)
• Behold The Seven-Headed Romney's Confused Anti-Gay ... - December 13, 2011 by Daniel Villarreal - (aka The Matthew Shepard Act) – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1913/show and http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/223 . Obama signed it. Dec 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm · @Reply Reply to this comment · Flag ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by Daniel Villarreal on December 13, 2011, "(aka The Matthew Shepard Act) – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1913/show and http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2009/h/223 . Obama signed it. Dec 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm · @Reply Reply to this comment · Flag ..." (/url?q=http://www.queerty.com/behold-the-seven-headed-romneys-confused-anti-gay-utterances-20111213/&sa=U&ei=g7JuT-qzHYf0sQLOxMCCBg&ved=0CEwQmAEwCQ&usg=AFQjCNEo0R8ASKIalhDwP4BldaFgp8Qvsg)

Highly Rated News Articles

• Herseth Sandlin Racks Up the Cash from Pelosi PAC - September 02, 2010 by Dakota Voice - ...American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus aka “porkulus” that came in at nearly $1 trillion in taxpayer spending)H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (another pro-homosexual bill)H.R.2346 Consumer Assistan

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  As noted by Dakota Voice on September 02, 2010, "...American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus aka “porkulus” that came in at nearly $1 trillion in taxpayer spending)H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (another pro-homosexual bill)H.R.2346 Consumer Assistan" (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DakotaVoice/~3/Re474D8gg90/)
• Herseth Sandlin Reflects South Dakota Values…NOT - July 11, 2010 by Dakota Voice - ...Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus aka “porkulus” that came in at nearly $1 trillion in taxpayer spending)H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (another pro-homosexual bill)H.R.2346 Consumer Assistance to Rec

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  As noted by Dakota Voice on July 11, 2010, "...Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus aka “porkulus” that came in at nearly $1 trillion in taxpayer spending)H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (another pro-homosexual bill)H.R.2346 Consumer Assistance to Rec" (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DakotaVoice/~3/ZQ5tNPqn1Pc/)
• - November 10, 2009 by Canada Free Press - I did the research and found that HR 1913 would be helpful to the victims and families of the Fort Hood incident of last week. ...

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  As noted by Canada Free Press on November 10, 2009, " I did the research and found that HR 1913 would be helpful to the victims and families of the Fort Hood incident of last week. ... " (http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/16760)