This legislation was approved as an attachment to the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report. The House passed the Hate Crimes legislation on October 8.

Once signed by the president, the legislation will permit greater federal involvement in the investigation and punishment of hate crimes. The legislation is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who, in 1998, was beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die. It also honors James Byrd, an African-American who was lynched the same year.

“What happened to Matthew Shepard and James Byrd defies explanation,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “These heinous murders, carried out because of the victim’s identities, takes the attacks against them to a new level. This new law will help ensure another level of protection against future crimes of this abominable nature.”

Under the new law, crimes motivated by gender identity, sexual orientation, gender, and mental and physical disability would be designated as hate crimes. The measure provides state and local authorities with grants to investigate and prosecute such crimes. And the federal government would also be allowed to prosecute local cases if states request help.

“Crimes that target victims based on their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation do violence not only to the victims, but to the core values of American society,” B’nai B’rith Director of Legislative Affairs Eric Fusfield said. “The added protections contained in this bill will deter such crimes and will better equip law enforcement authorities to pursue and punish the offenders.”

B’nai B’rith urges President Obama to quickly sign the measure into law.