The U.S. Congress has dropped the Matthew Shepard measure—which would expand hate-crime laws to encompass sexual orientation—after there were indications it would not pass the House, the Associated Press reported.
The bill was attached to a defense bill that would have put more money into the Iraq War—and that may have been the hate-crime measure's downfall. Several Democrats who are against the war stated that they would not support the defense bill. However, the Shepard bill ( sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. ) received support by other Democrats and moderate Republicans.
In September, the U.S. Senate voted 60-39 to attach the measure to the defense bill. The House did not have such an attachment on its military measure.
The hate-crimes measure—named for Shepard, a gay college student murdered in Wyoming in 1998—would have provided $10 million to local law enforcement agencies.
In a press release, Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew's parents, said, 'We are truly dismayed to find that Congress now will put aside its leadership on passage of federal hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
'At this time of year that fills us all with hope for humankind, we are sad to find that a Congressional majority of each House who have already adopted the Matthew Shepard Act cannot yet come together.
'If not here, where? If not now, when?'
According to CQPolitics.com, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said, 'We are not giving up on efforts to find another legislative vehicle, in the second half of this Congress. The Web site also quotes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as being 'strongly committed' to seeing the hate-crimes measure passed.