Senate: Hate Crimes Act Achieves Cloture

Breaking news from HRC Backstory:

The U.S. Senate today achieved cloture (the procedural step to limit debate and proceed toward a vote) on the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report of which the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a part by a vote of 64 to 35. The Senate will now proceed with debate on the Conference Report followed by a vote on final passage.

Almost there....