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 committed to ensuring protections against discrimination based on any factor, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, disability, age, gender, veteran status or sexual orientation.

I want to protect voting rights and I want all Americans to feel confident that the U.S. Department of Justice prosecutes hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law.

Promoting and protecting basic human rights does not stop at our nation's borders. As co-chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, I have long been committed to advancing protections of fundamental rights of people throughout the world, especially minority populations.

I also have...

• Co-sponsored the Prevention of Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation in Federal Elections Act, which would criminalize campaign tactics that blatantly seek to mislead voters and suppress minority turnout;



• Co-sponsored the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, guaranteeing the right of all Americans to cast their vote;



• Co-sponsored the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, the Civil Rights Act of 2008, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which all expand civil rights protections and reinstate accountability for violations;



• Authored the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, requiring the U.S. State Department to issue separate reports on worldwide anti-Semitism; and,



• Led international efforts to hold governments, including the United States, responsible for torture and violating religious and political rights of its citizens.

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