US Senate Passes Bill to Fight Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON—A hate crimes bill to combat violence against Asian Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic passed the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly on Thursday, a rare bipartisan vote in the evenly divided chamber. The bill passed 94-1, with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) the only no vote. It must pass the House of Representatives, where Democrats hold a clear majority. President Joe Biden has called for passage. “When given the opportunity to work, the Senate can work. Members from both sides of the aisle have worked together … to consider and perfect and enact legislation responding to a pressing issue,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor earlier in the week. Reports of violence against Asian Americans have spiked since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure, authored by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), designates a Justice Department employee to expedite a …
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