"The Hate Crime Prevention Act will not put an end to hatred or stop hate crimes, but it will reduce them by making it easier for our federal government to help local law enforcement officials," Dennis Shepard, Matthew's father, said at a press conference.

He was flanked by members of Congress, among them Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, who asked for the proposed act to be pushed through before Congress adjourns on Wednesday.

"We are all here this afternoon to urge the passage of HCPA before Congress adjourns for the year. It can be done, It must be done," he said.

Jeffords said the number of hate crimes committed -- whether racist or against a victim's sexual orientation -- doubled between 1991 and 1997 to 8,000 cases reported to police.

Republican Senator for Oregon, Gordon Smith, said, "We need to put out that some crimes are so heinous, so odious" that they should be placed in a category of their own.

Aaron James McKinney, 22, was given two life sentences last Thursday for Matthew's murder. McKinney's accomplice Russell Anderson, 21, was imprisoned for life last April for his part in the murder.