WASHINGTON DC— Late last night the U.S. Senate passed the Defense Department authorization bill on which the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act is attached as an amendment. The Senate defense spending measure includes most of the weapons program cuts sought by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and an expansion of the federal hate-crime law.
The House approved similar legislation in April, and the Obama administration has voiced support for the changes. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 protects those attacked because of their race, color, religion or national origin. The bill now goes to a House/Senate Conference Committee to work out differences between the two versions of the legislation.
The Hate Crimes amendment to the bill was approved by the Senate on July 17 and would expand protections under the federal hate-crime law to those attacked because of their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.
The provision also gives the Justice Department expanded authority to investigate crimes under the law when local authorities don’t act.
Stripped from the bill on July 21 was $1.75 billion that would have continued production of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-22 fighter jets over the objections of Gates and President Barack Obama. The administration threatened to veto the bill if the funding was kept in it.
The bill left largely intact other major budget recommendations by Gates, including termination of Lockheed’s VH-71 presidential helicopter program that has been plagued by cost overruns.
The $679.8 billion bill, passed by an 87-7 vote late Thursday.
—Staff
