The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a landmark United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (H.R. 2647). The Act expands federal hate crime protections to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in addition to existing categories such as race, color, religion, and national origin. Named after Matthew Shepard, a gay student murdered in Wyoming in 1998, and James Byrd Jr., an African American man killed in a racially motivated dragging in Texas in the same year, the legislation provides enhanced tools for federal prosecutors and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence. It also authorizes grant programs to support state and local efforts in combating hate crimes and improving data collection. The Act represents a significant step in civil rights enforcement, building on earlier laws like the 1968 Civil Rights Act and the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Implementation involves coordination between the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and other agencies to train personnel and assist in prosecutions. Since enactment, it has been instrumental in addressing rising hate crimes and facilitating federal intervention in cases where state authorities lack resources or jurisdiction.