WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono issued the following press release:
Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act (IRPHA), legislation that would help strengthen the credible and accurate reporting of hate crimes to better respond to the national rise in these incidents. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Don Bacon (R-NE).
Crime reporting to the FBI is voluntary, with less than 16,500 of more than 19,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. reporting their statistics (https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/hate-crimes-awareness-month-kicks-off/) to the Federal Bureau ...