Civil Rights
Our great nation is built upon the fundamental values of liberty and democracy, and we must ensure that those values are always the bedrock of our society. Every person -- regardless of their race, gender, country of origin, religion or sexual orientation -- is equal and should be treated as such. Anything less undermines those fundamental values upon which our country was founded.
As your Senator, I have worked to provide equal rights for all Americans, from fighting to end racial profiling to ensuring that all citizens have a right to vote in free and fair elections to helping guarantee equal pay for equal work. I will continue my efforts to ensure that our nation fulfills its obligation to provide an equal opportunity for all.
As your Senator, I have worked to provide equal rights for all Americans, from fighting to end racial profiling to ensuring that all citizens have a right to vote in free and fair elections to helping guarantee equal pay for equal work. I will continue my efforts to ensure that our nation fulfills its obligation to provide an equal opportunity for all.
Highlights
- Combating hate crimes -- Original co-sponor of The Matthew Shepard Act -- landmark legislation to combat hate crimes that was enacted into law in 2009. Under the law, federal law enforcement has greater authority to investigate and prosecute suspected hate crimes.
- Equal pay for equal work -- Original co-sponsor of The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps end pay discrimination and was enacted into law in 2009. The law makes it illegal to discriminate in wages based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability and strengthens the legal recourse available to those who are subject to such discrimination.
- Humane immigration detentions -- Author of legislation to ensure that the immigration enforcement and detention process is humane and does not unfairly target American citizens or legal permanent residents. The Protect Citizens from Unlawful Detention Act would establish minimum standards of procedure and treatment for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and immigrants who are impacted by immigration enforcement and detention operations. The Strong STANDARDS Act sets minimum detention standards and requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that laws concerning the treatment of detainees are properly enforced.
- Upholding the Geneva Conventions -- Lead co-sponsor of the Restoring the Constitution Act, which bars evidence gained through torture or coercion, restores Habeas Corpus rights and reinstates U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions in order to protect the nation’s military personnel abroad.
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