Senate overwhelmingly passes anti-Asian hate crimes bill

The vote was 94-1. The lone vote in opposition was from Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.

The bill would also direct the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to issue guidance raising awareness of hate crimes during the pandemic, and work with agencies to establish online reporting of them. It now goes to the House before being signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that the bill is “proof” that “the Senate can work to solve important issues,” and would tell bigots “we’re going after you.”

The bill, sponsored by New York Democratic Rep. Grace Meng and Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, gained momentum after the shootings of six Asian women in Atlanta on March 16 drew even more attention to the rise of anti-Asian violence over the past year.

Some Republicans were initially skeptical about the legislation known as the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act but Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins and others teamed up with Hirono to strike an agreement broadening its support.

Hirono said Thursday that the bill’s passage “sends a clear and unmistakable message of solidarity” to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Collins said it “affirms our commitment to stand with” them against hate crimes.

Last week, Hawley indicated his opposition to the bill, saying it was too broad and “open-ended” since it mandates “all this data collection in expansive categories that the federal government will collect and maintain.”

“That concerns me,” Hawley said.

Hirono and other Democrats have also pressured Biden to include more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in top roles. Biden has since named Erika Moritsugu, a former official at the National Partnership for Women & Families and counsel to Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, as a liaison to the AAPI community.

Of the 23 Cabinet-level positions requiring Senate consideration, Biden nominated two Asian Americans: Katherine Tai for trade representative and Neera Tanden for Office of Management and Budget director. Tai, the daughter of immigrants from Taiwan, was confirmed as the first woman of color to be the top US trade negotiator.

But Tanden’s nomination failed after West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, announced his opposition due to her long string of comments attacking Republicans.

This story and headline have been updated to reflect additional developments.

CNN’s Ted Barrett and Ali Zaslav contributed to this report.

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