Contact:
Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738

AAUW applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HR 1913). Today's vote is a strong statement against the bias-motivated crimes that can destroy communities. AAUW believes that current federal law does not do enough to protect victims, especially women, who are completely ignored under the federal statute. In fact, we don't even know how often they are targeted because statistics for such crimes aren't collected. AAUW has galvanized women's organizations and has been working with a broad coalition on passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act for the past decade. We will continue to do so to see this bill pass in the Senate and then go to President Obama's desk for long-overdue enactment.

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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.

Visit the AAUW website at www.aauw.org.