Hate Crimes Bill Signing Set for Wed

President Barack Obama will sign into law the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act on Wednesday and host a White House reception later that day to commemorate the measure, according to an Obama Administration official.

The bill signing and the reception are two separate events. The President will deliver remarks at the commemoration, which starts at 4:45 p.m. and is being held in partnership with David Bohnett Foundation. Bohnett is an Internet entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a major donor to progressive candidates.

Details were not yet available about the timing of the actual signing of the legislation, which is technically the National Defense Authorization Act with the hate crimes measure amended to it.