Gordon Smith

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in November 2000 in Shawano, WI. Two men tried to run an Asian couple off a road with a pickup truck. The men pulled up behind the victims' car at a high speed and forced the couple's car to swerve onto the shoulder. They then continued to chase the couple and buzzed close to the vehicle. The driver, Grant Heim, 19, used racial slurs when referring to the victims and was charged with a hate crime in connection to the incident. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred December 10, 2000 in Jacksonville, FL. Three white men, all 20 years old, assaulted a black man. The victim was walking down the street when the three allegedly said, ``There's one, let's get him'' before running toward him. The assailants, who sources say met at a white supremacist rally, knocked the victim to the ground, then punched and kicked him. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred August 14, 2001 in Jackson Heights, NY. Edgar Garzon, 35, was attacked after leaving a gay bar. The assailants, two men, exchanged hostile words with Mr. Garzon outside the bar, followed the victim toward his home, then beat the victim with a baseball bat or lead pipe. Mr. Garzon suffered a skull fracture and died three weeks after the attack. Police are investigating the incident as a bias attack. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I probably will not use all the 5 minutes allocated. I thank my colleagues for their courtesy in granting me this time. I have been on the floor this morning listening to charges and countercharges between the parties as to who is to blame for the current state of the economy. Frankly, I do not believe we planned this economy. I think Congresses and Presidents are given too much credit and blame for the free-market system. I think the people at home could care less about all the fingerpointing. In my view, now is the time to come together, not as partisans but as Americans and as bipartisans, if you will, to support legislation that is critical to those who are bearing the brunt of the economic downturn our country has been experiencing. I have joined Senator Kennedy as the lead cosponsor of this legislation to extend emergency benefits for workers who have already exhausted their benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Program. I am here again to offer my support for another attempt to extend the emergency benefits for unemployed workers. Last week, Senator Kennedy, Senator Wellstone, and I introduced the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002. This is yet another effort to push the issue to provide benefits from this Congress before it adjourns. I note for the record, I have been pushing emergency benefits for unemployed workers in Oregon for a year now, since October of 2001. After months of work, last March Congress finally extended emergency unemployment benefits to workers who have lost their jobs during the economic downturn, but this is no longer adequate. Under the extension, unemployed workers in 48 States received 13 additional weeks of benefits, and those in 2 States received 26 weeks. My State, the State of Oregon, was one of those two States, as our economy has been hurt, in a relative sense, worse than any other in the United States. Now those benefits are ending for Oregonians. Starting this month about 1,000 Oregonians a week will stop receiving badly needed emergency unemployment benefits. That is a lot of buying power that will leave the economy of the State of Oregon if it happens but, more importantly, there will be an awful lot of human hardship that will ensue among these Oregonians if it happens. These benefits are not gratuitous. They are not excessive. They are the barest of safety nets required by these families. For many of these families, as I have said, 1,000 a week, these benefits will cease if we do not act before we go home. For that reason, we are, again, introducing legislation, this time the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002, in an effort to provide for these families. Under this new legislation, those Oregonians will receive up to an additional 20 weeks of emergency benefits. This is a temporary extension through July of 2003. Oregon's unemployment rate is simply the highest in America, and this is the least we can do for those who are bearing most of the burden of this economic downturn. I am going to join with Senator Kennedy and Senator Wellstone again to work in a bipartisan way to get this bill passed before we go home and influence our leadership to come to an agreement, as the assistant Republican leader indicated his willingness to do. This is a must-do before we go home. I thank my colleagues for the time and yield the floor.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred September 14, 2001 in Alexandria, VA. A truck driver of Afghani descent was attacked in a parking lot just days after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The assailant, Michael Wayne Johnson, 49, pulled alongside the victim, asked if he was from Afghanistan, then jumped out of his truck and punched the victim. During the attack Mr. Johnson yelled ``I'm going to kill you!'' I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. I wonder if I may take the remaining 2 minutes on the minority side even though I am speaking for the majority position.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred June 20, 2001 in Albany, NY. A gay man was beaten while sitting on a bench next to a bike path. The assailants, three teens, approached the victim, used anti-gay slurs, and repeatedly punched him in the head with their fists. Investigators believe the victim was targeted because of his sexual orientation. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred April 20, 2001 in Brighton, MI. Two white men assaulted a black state trooper who was dancing with a white woman. The assailants, who did not believe that the state trooper should be dancing with a white woman, attacked the trooper and yelled racial slurs. The attackers were charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and ethnic intimidation in connection with the incident. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred January 17, 2001 in Helena, MT. A gay college student was beaten unconscious in his dorm room. The attacker struck the student in the head with a bottle, beat him while he was unconscious, and wrote ``Die Fag'' on his body with an ink marker. The victim withdrew from school two weeks after the attack. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred September 22, 2002, in West Hollywood, CA. Two men brutally attacked a 55 year old gay man walking in West Hollywood, the second such attack in West Hollywood this month. The assailants beat the victim with a baseball bat and metal pipe while yelling anti-gay slurs. The attackers, who match the description of the men who attacked a 34 year old actor on September 1, fled when a cab driver stopped to help the victim. The victim received treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following the assault. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred August 19, 2000 in Los Altos, CA. A gay man and his friend were assaulted outside a hair salon. The assailant, Peter Ellsworth, used anti-gay epithets during the attack. Mr. Ellsworth has been charged in connection with the incident. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred February 11, 2001 in Rifle, CO. Kyle Skyock, 16, was found unconscious on the side of a road after being beaten by four teenage boys who believed he was gay. Skyock's injuries included a fractured skull, burns, three broken ribs, and a bruise described by doctors as being in the shape of a two- by-four. During the beating, the assailants made derogatory comments about the victim's perceived sexual orientation. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Madam President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred July 31, 2001 in Browns Mills, NJ. Two white men attacked a black couple while they were sleeping in their home. The attackers beat the victims with baseball bats, causing severe cuts and broken bones. Neighbors said that the assailants had previously indicated their intention to ``beat up'' the victims, and used racial slurs to describe them. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred April 13, 2002 in Temecula, CA. Two black women were assaulted in a restaurant parking lot. The assailants, described as a group of drunken white men, surrounded the victims' car, pounded dents into it, taunted the women with racial slurs, and attacked one of them physically, ripping her clothing. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred March 26, 2002 in Denver, CO. A lesbian, April Mora, 17, was brutally attacked by three men. The attackers punched and kicked her in the stomach, then held her down and carved the words ``dyke'' and ``RIP'' into her flesh with a razor. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred July 20, 2001, in Cullman, AL. Two black men were attacked inside their car after arriving at a party. The assailants, three white men, smashed the car with baseball bats and cut a racial slur into the side of the car. Authorities investigated the incident as a possible hate crime. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in July 2000 in San Diego, CA. Four Mexican migrants were attacked and shot with pellet guns. The assailants, several neo-Nazi skinheads, chased the victims, beat them, and shot them with high-powered pellet guns. Two of the victims had to have the pellets surgically removed. Police investigated the incident as a hate crime. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred September 2, 2002 in Shelton, CT. A 42 year old gay man was beaten at a Labor Day party. The three attackers made derogatory remarks about the victim's sexual orientation and then assaulted him, breaking his facial bones and ribs. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred August 22, 2002 in San Francisco, CA. Two people beat a lesbian outside a nightclub. The assailants, Jack Broughton, 35, and Jean Earl, 32, punched and kicked the victim, who was later treated at San Francisco General Hospital. Police say that the attackers shouted anti-gay slurs, and are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise to salute a World War II veteran from my home State of Oregon. Today, I want to recognize the efforts of August F. ``Gus'' Smoorenburg, a member of the European resistance fighters who lived and struggled in Nazi occupied territories throughout the last century's largest and most destructive war. Born in Amsterdam in the 1920s, Gus was 19 years old when Germany invaded Holland, Luxembourg, and France. To stop the Germans, the Dutch tried using their own landscape, opening the country's famous dams and sluices to stop tanks and trucks filled with soldiers. After the brutal killing of thousands of civilians, including schoolchildren, the Dutch surrendered on May 15, 1940. The European resistance fighters, as they have come to be known, began as independent groups of youths clandestinely sabotaging the occupying German forces by whatever means at their disposal. Resistance groups sprang up in every Nazi-occupied country. Gradually, like-minded people banded together and worked in secret to overthrow the invaders. Dutch, French and Polish youths risked their lives day and night to slow the advance of the Nazi forces. They accomplished small victories by such simple methods as rearranging traffic signs and filling the gas tanks of their enemy's vehicles with sugar. These groups became a part of an organized European resistance movement when they finally established short-wave radio contact with London and received coded messages. The risks of joining the resistance were great. A resistance worker caught by the Nazis faced certain death. The Germans sometimes rounded up and executed hundreds of civilians in revenge for an act of sabotage. Gus' life was no exception to this backlash to the resistance fighters. By 1944 his family was living on meager rations of tulip bulbs and two of his fellow resistance fighters and a cousin had been executed by firing squad. The ferociousness of the fighting and danger that these unsung heroes faced are conveyed by his description of the bombing of Dortmund: ``This sight I cannot ever forget: burning roofs collapsing, burning window sills and brick walls crashing down on sidewalks, bricks and debris lying everywhere from roads as well as from houses, blown to pieces. It is unforgettable . . . to see and feel a city, an entire city, on fire.'' Gus moved to Portland, OR in 1977 to be closer to his oldest daughter. He has been a valuable member of the community and a welcome piece of living history. I believe it is time that he, along with other resistance fighters, be recognized for the sacrifices they selflessly made fighting the oppressive forces of fascism during those dark years. Each allied nation is indebted to patriots such as Gus; without their invaluable efforts the greatest war of the last century might have lasted much longer and cost many more thousands of lives. It is with humble respect and praise that I offer my recognition today to Gus and the European resistance fighters.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Madam President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred September 2, 2002 in West Hollywood, CA. Two gay men, Treve Broudy, 33, and Edward Lett, 22, were brutally beaten while walking home after dinner. As the victims were walking, a car pulled up beside them. The two assailants, one of whom wielded a bat, jumped out of the car and attacked the victims. Mr. Lett received minor injuries, but Mr. Broudy was critically wounded, having been kicked and punched and struck violently in the back of the head with the baseball bat. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident, which police are investigating as a hate crime. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in August 2001 in St. Paul, MN. Two men leaving a Ku Klux Klan rally attacked a four year old boy of mixed race. The attackers pushed the boy off his bicycle, yelled racial epithets, and punched the child in the side of the head. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to introduce the College Tuition Relief Act of 2002, a bill that will go a long way toward easing the burden of college tuition fees for parents and students across the country. When President Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act last year, millions of hard working Americans finally got to keep more of their own money so that they could spend it in ways that helped their families most. Too often forgotten, though, is the fact that none of the provisions in that important tax relief bill is permanent. All will expire in a few short years, and, unless we act soon, the American taxpayers will have to adjust their budgets to account for higher taxes once again. Included in last year's tax relief legislation were two provisions that are of the utmost importance to families and young students struggling to pay the ever-increasing costs of higher education. The first allows taxpayers to deduct as much as $4000 of their college tuition expenses from their taxes every year; the second allows individuals to exclude as much as $5250 in employer-provided education assistance from their taxes, a critically important benefit for a great many Americans attempting to balance school with work, family, and limited budgets. Because of an unfortunate quirk in the law, both of these provisions will expire after only a few years, and future generations of young people will not receive the benefits of a more affordable education. The solution to this problem is simple: we should make these provisions permanent. My bill does just that. The College Tuition Relief Act of 2002 will simply ensure that future college students will be able to count on their government to support them as they work towards attaining a good education. The two provisions that this bill will make a permanent part of our tax law have always received broad bipartisan support, and I am confident that none of us wants to take back the help we are currently giving to college students and the families who so often contribute to their tuition. Even my colleagues who did not vote for last year's tax relief should find it easy to support this bill and, along with it, our Nation's college students. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the Bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to introduce the College Tuition Relief Act of 2002, a bill that will go a long way toward easing the burden of college tuition fees for parents and students across the country. When President Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act last year, millions of hard working Americans finally got to keep more of their own money so that they could spend it in ways that helped their families most. Too often forgotten, though, is the fact that none of the provisions in that important tax relief bill is permanent. All will expire in a few short years, and, unless we act soon, the American taxpayers will have to adjust their budgets to account for higher taxes once again. Included in last year's tax relief legislation were two provisions that are of the utmost importance to families and young students struggling to pay the ever-increasing costs of higher education. The first allows taxpayers to deduct as much as $4000 of their college tuition expenses from their taxes every year; the second allows individuals to exclude as much as $5250 in employer-provided education assistance from their taxes, a critically important benefit for a great many Americans attempting to balance school with work, family, and limited budgets. Because of an unfortunate quirk in the law, both of these provisions will expire after only a few years, and future generations of young people will not receive the benefits of a more affordable education. The solution to this problem is simple: we should make these provisions permanent. My bill does just that. The College Tuition Relief Act of 2002 will simply ensure that future college students will be able to count on their government to support them as they work towards attaining a good education. The two provisions that this bill will make a permanent part of our tax law have always received broad bipartisan support, and I am confident that none of us wants to take back the help we are currently giving to college students and the families who so often contribute to their tuition. Even my colleagues who did not vote for last year's tax relief should find it easy to support this bill and, along with it, our Nation's college students. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the Bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred July 29, 2000 in Mahwah, NJ. A man attacked two gay men after leaving an apartment complex party. The assailant confronted the two partygoers in the apartment parking lot, made obscene remarks about their sexual orientation, and then punched and kicked them. One of the victims had to be treated at a local hospital. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.