31.   She urged the panel to approve legislation that would broaden the federal hate crimes law to protect gays.

32.   South Carolina is also one of nine states without a hate crime law of any kind.

33.   Taking its cue from an alleged racial killing in Texas, Congress stepped gingerly Wednesday into efforts to strengthen federal hate crime laws.

34.   Texas had no hate crimes law on the books when James Byrd Jr. was dragged to his death behind a pickup truck.

35.   Texas has a hate crimes law, but critics argued that it was much too vague to enforce.

36.   Texas has an existing hate crimes law, but it has been little used by prosecutors because it does not specify protected groups.

37.   The attack renewed a call for the state Legislature to expand the state hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.

38.   The attack has become a lightning rod for efforts, primarily in the Western states, to enact hate crimes laws.

39.   The legislation would expand the existing federal hate crimes law to cover crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender or disability.

40.   The prosecution involves the federal hate crimes law.