Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, on Asian hate crimes, I am delighted the House will pass the Anti-Asian hate crimes bill today, which passed the Senate last month with overwhelming bipartisan support. Once the legislation is approved by the House, it will go directly to the President's desk. I expect it will be signed into law later this week.

Discrimination against Asian Americans is, sadly, not a new phenomenon in our Nation's history, but the pandemic brought old biases and prejudices back to the foreground.

This legislation will strengthen law enforcement's ability to detect, deter, and prosecute hate crimes of all varieties, especially hate crimes involving Asian Americans. It sends a powerful message of solidarity to all our friends in the Asian American community. It is so important, so vital, so strong, and an important piece of the puzzle of how we build a better future in America.

I thank my colleagues from both Chambers, from Senators Hirono and Duckworth in the Senate to Representative Meng in the House and all those who improved the legislation through the amendment process here in the Senate.

Today, we are another step closer to making progress in the fight against racial discrimination and violence aimed at Asian Americans in recent months. The Senate can be proud it took the lead.

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