The Senate is expected to vote this week on a measure that would expand the definition of hate crimes and widen federal authority to prosecute them. The Matthew Shepard Hates Crimes Prevention Act is named for the gay Wyoming university student who was brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in 1998. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held a news conference to support the measure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: “This bill would authorize the federal government to prosecute a hate crime when a state is unwilling or unable to do so. It would make two main changes in current law. First, the bill would add gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability as protected categories under our hate crime laws. It will give state and local governments the option of asking federal authorities for help in prosecuting these heinous crimes.”

Reid appeared alongside Matthew Shepard’s mother, Judy Shepard.

Judy Shepard: “This bill will send a great message of respect to the nation that the government understands that hate crimes against the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community are on the rise, they are heinous, they’re very violent. And even though they’re not in the news as much as they should be, every time they occur this bill will greatly enable the prosecution.”