By the Associated Press and KFDI News:
The Senate has passed legislation to combat the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
The measure passed Thursday would expedite the review of hate crimes and provide support for local law enforcement in response to thousands of reported violent incidents in the past year. The House is expected to consider a similar bill in the coming weeks.
Police have seen a noted uptick in such crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate’s bipartisan denunciation of such violence is a modest step toward legislating in a chamber where most of President Joe Biden’s agenda has stalled.
The Senate bill was approved with a vote of 94-1, and the no vote was cast by Missouri Senator Josh Hawley.
The bill included an amendment from Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, called the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault and Threats to Equity Act (NO-HATE Act). The bill calls for the collection of data on hate crimes.
Senator Moran said in a press release, “Collecting information on hate crimes across the country will help us better understand the daily threats facing racial, religious and ethnic communities in the U.S. Hate crimes are unacceptable, and it’s important that state law enforcement officials have the resources to report hate crimes to the FBI to help end the senseless and targeted violence aimed at minority communities.”
