Unspeakable tragedy occurred in my district in 2018 when worshippers from three synagogues at the Tree of Life building were targeted in the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history. Eleven people were murdered, and others injured by a perpetrator who had a history of posting anti-Semitic comments online.

This catastrophe and others have brought home the devastating reality that identity-based hate crimes inflict on so many communities across the country. From Orlando to Charleston, El Paso to Oak Creek, Boulder to Buffalo and beyond, people continue to be targeted with violence because of who they are, how they look, how they worship, where they're from or how they identify. Hate crimes related to assault or vandalism also throw entire communities into a state of terror.

According to the Pennsylvania State Policy Uniform Crime Reporting System, between 2020 and 2021, hate crime incidents in Pennsylvania more than doubled statewide. Between 2021 and 2023, the Department of Justice reports hate crimes almost doubled again in Pennsylvania. Worse, hate crimes are often misreported because of a lack of training or tracking.

We must strengthen our laws to better prevent and address these crimes of violence. My legislation provides an opportunity to do so in a comprehensive manner. I will soon reintroduce a legislative package to improve Pennsylvania’s response to hate crimes and ethnic intimidation, ensuring justice for victims and providing for tracking, training, and other preventative measures against future violence. Please support these bills as we move to create a safer and more inclusive Commonwealth.