Grace Meng: “For over a year, against the backdrop of a raging COVID-19 virus and an economic crisis, Asian Americans have been…”

“For over a year, against the backdrop of a raging COVID-19 virus and an economic crisis, Asian Americans have been fighting an additional pandemic: the virus of hate and bigotry. Over 6,600 incidents of physical, verbal, and online attacks against those of Asian descent have been reported since March 2020. Of these, about two-thirds were reported by women. Throughout this pandemic, over 2 million Asian Americans served our Nation as frontline workers, including those in healthcare, and yet some of these same Asian Americans became victims of hate as they were commuting to or from work. Children as young as my two boys have been attacked on playgrounds in their own neighborhoods across the country in every single State. Elderly are being assaulted, tragically resulting in deaths. This culminated in the worst kind of tragedy, with the mass shootings in Atlanta. We need to address this hate once and for all. That is why I introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. I am proud the Senate companion bill, led by Senator Hirono, passed in the Senate last month with resounding bipartisan support, 94-1. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act is a necessary step to confront the second pandemic of racism and discrimination. We cannot mend what we do not measure. I strongly urge my colleagues to stand with me and vote for the passage of this bill.”