Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide that offenses committed on the basis of political affiliation constitute hate crimes, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020 2. Political affiliation hate crimes (a) Civil rights crimes Section 245 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking or national origin , national origin, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) (b) Damage to religious property Section 247(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking or ethnic characteristics ethnic characteristics, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) (c) Hate crime acts Section 249 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting political affiliation, actual or perceived (d) Intimidation in fair housing Section 901 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3631 or national origin national origin, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) (e) Sentencing enhancements for hate crimes Section 280003(a) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 ( 28 U.S.C. 994 or sexual orientation , sexual orientation, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) 3. Data collection; report (a) Data collection The Attorney General shall collect data on instances of alleged offenses under section 245 of title 18, United States Code, committed on the basis of political affiliation, including details about the alleged offense and its outcome, including demographic information of victim and the accused. (b) Report The Attorney General shall submit to Congress, on an annual basis, for the 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on the data collected under subsection (a), including an assessment of why such offenses are occurring, and recommendations on how to prevent such offenses. Reports under this subsection may not contain any information that may reveal the identity of an individual crime victim. 4. Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs Section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d or national origin national origin, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) 5. Nondiscrimination in employment Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e (1) in section 703, by striking or national origin national origin, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) (2) in section 704, by striking or national origin national origin, or political affiliation (as such term is defined in the Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020) 6. Definition of political affiliation In this Act, the term political affiliation (1) Joining, belonging to, or withdrawing from any political party, political action committee, or super-PAC. (2) Expressing support for, opposition to, or indifference toward a matter of controverted political interest. (3) Contributing, whether financially or in-kind, to any ballot question, referendum, legislation, political candidate, political party, political action committee, or super-PAC. (4) Endorsing or expressing support for, opposition to, or indifference toward any ballot question, referendum, legislation, political candidate, political party, political action committee, or super-PAC. Such term shall not be construed to prevent a mission-oriented organization or entity from taking otherwise lawful steps to preserve the integrity of its mission.

Summary: Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020 This bill specifies that certain offenses involving political affiliation are hate crimes. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a prison term, a fine, or both. Further, the bill prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation in areas involving housing, federally assisted programs, and employment. The bill defines political affiliation to include, among other actions, joining, belonging to, or withdrawing from any political party, political action committee, or super political action committee.