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Every individual must have an equal opportunity to live their life and fulfill the American Dream. This is only possible when the government protects the civil and human rights of every citizen. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am dedicated to ensuring protections against any form of discrimination, including race, color, national origin, disability, age, gender, veterans status, or sexual orientation. I want all Americans to feel confident that the U.S. Department of Justice prosecutes hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law.
It also is imperative that all Americans feel confident that their right to vote is protected and that those who would seek to intentionally deny any American his or her legal right to vote be held accountable.
I also have...
- Introduced the Justice Integrity Act of 2009, to increase public confidence in the justice system and address any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal process.
- Co-sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, all of which expand protections and reinstate accountability for violations of Americans' civil rights.
- Active participant in the confirmation hearing process for Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Chaired confirmation hearings for Judge Andre M. Davis, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, and Thomas E. Perez, to be Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice.
- In the wake of the June 2009 shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, I authored a Resolution, co-sponsored by the entire Senate and passed unanimously, honoring the memory of the slain officer and condemning acts of violence and harassment based on any form of prejudice or hate, and called upon leaders of all Nations to speak out against the manifestations of anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hatred.
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