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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release September 13, 2000

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

I applaud the House members who voted today in favor of comprehensive hate crimes legislation. This courageous bipartisan vote sends a strong message that everyone deserves equal treatment under the law - no matter what his or her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.

The House vote endorses legislation approved by the Senate in June in a vote presided over by Vice President Gore. This historic legislation will help fight hate crimes by strengthening the law and providing state and local prosecutors the tools they need to enforce it. I urge House and Senate conferees to act swiftly on this legislation so I can sign it into law.

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