LinkThe Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act was introduced by Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., along with more than 100 other members of Congress. The Senate is expected to introduce a bipartisan companion bill next month.
The legislation adds sexual orientation, gender and gender identity to local hate crimes that the U.S. Justice Department has the authority to investigate. It makes grants available to states and localities for training law enforcement and for investigating and prosecuting these hate crimes.