Amy Klobuchar, Lisa Murkowski Co-Sponsor Tougher Hate Crime Legislation

KEY POINTS

Senators Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Murkowski have sponsored the Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act
The law would make existing laws easier to enforce by changing the requirements for trying an offense as a hate crime
There were 7,120 attacks motivated by bias against protected groups in 2018

In between her time on the campaign trail and her time at the Trump impeachment trial, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has found time to co-sponsor some tougher-than-ever laws to prevent hate crimes.

Newsweek reports that the Democratic presidential hopeful has gotten together with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to introduce the Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act, which was unveiled on Jan. 28. The law would make existing laws easier to enforce by changing the requirements for trying an offense as a hate crime.

In a press statement, Senator Klobuchar discussed her experience prosecuting hate crimes and the lifelong impact they have on victims and their families.

"As a former prosecutor, I've seen firsthand the trauma that hate crimes can inflict not only on victims, but also on entire communities. We must stand together to make combating hate-motivated violence a priority," said Klobuchar. "The Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act ensures that federal law enforcement have the authority needed to prosecute hate crimes. We must do all we can to put an end to attacks motivated by prejudice."

The threshold of hate crime designation has been the subject debate in American courts. Districts remain divided as to what constitutes a hate crime. A 2014 decision found that bias against a protected group must be the sole motivation for hate crime, a standard many minority advocates argue can be tough to meet. The Justice for Hate Crimes Act includes key language that would relax these rigid restrictions. It would require bias against a protected class to be a "substantial motivating factor" in a crime, rather than the sole motivation.

Data from the FBI indicates that there were approximately 7,120 attacks motivated by bias against protected groups in 2018, a 16-year high. Klobuchar and Murkowski’s bipartisan legislation has backing from key groups, including the NAACP, Anti-Defamation League and National Disability Rights Network. A House version of the bill was yet to be introduced as of Tuesday.