On April 25, the House Judiciary Committee passed, 20-14, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592), a bill that would include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability in the definition of federal hate crimes. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security approved the measure by voice vote on April 24. The bill would authorize $5 million annually for FY2008 and 2009 to award grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to assist with investigating, prosecuting, and preventing such crimes. Those convicted of such hate crimes could face up to ten years in prison; those convicted where death resulted from the crime could face up to life in prison.
During consideration of H.R. 1592, the committee adopted the following amendments by voice vote:
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