December 6, 2007 – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) gave the following statement today in response to the conferees of the the National Defense Authorizations Act (NDAA) stripping the controversial Hate Crimes provision today from bill.  Congressman Franks had joined with Randy Forbes (VA-04) in sending a letter stating that  the Conferees on the NDAA refrain from including the Hate Crimes provision.

“It is a great victory for our men and women in uniform that the Hate Crimes language was stripped from the defense bill today, and I commend Members of the Senate who came to this decision.  The Hate Crimes provision would have politicized the defense bill during a time of armed conflict; and regardless of one’s opinion on this provision, using the Defense Authorization bill as vehicle to debate it only placed the burden of this controversy on the backs of our troops. 

“For this reason, I joined with my colleague Rep. Randy Forbes in authoring a letter to the bill’s conferees, signed by almost 30 other Members of Congress, stating that if the Hate Crimes provision was included, we would urge the President to exercise his veto authority.

“I applaud the efforts of my House colleagues who remained steadfast in their commitment to put our troops first.”