In strongly bipartisan fashion, the United States Senate voted to advance a bill intended to confront the rise of violence against Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which could be the first major test of the filibuster of this Congress.
The Senate voted 92-6 to advance the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, co-authored by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), which would provide an ability for local and state law enforcement agencies to respond to hate crimes, assign a point person in the Department of Justice to expedite review COVID-19-related hate crimes, and deliver guidance to combat discriminatory language related to the pandemic.
The only no votes came from Sens. Cotton (R-AK), Cruz (R-TX), Hawley (R-MO), Marshall (R-KS), Paul (R-KY) and Tuberville (R-AL).
The bill is the first major piece of Congressional legislation aimed at combatting the rise of Anti-Asian hate brought about in the last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, inflamed in large part by references to the origin of the coronavirus in China.
A recent study showed that the use of anti-Asian hashtags skyrocketed on Twitter last year in the days after then-President Donald Trump used the term “Chinese virus” for the first time in a tweet. Trump also often used terms such as “China virus," or other variations on the same theme, during speeches and news conferences.
“For more than a year, the Asian American community has been fighting two crises — the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-Asian hate,” Rep. Meng said. “Combating hate should not be a partisan issue. It’s about the safety of all Americans.”
The measure strongly advanced, in part, because of Senate Minority Mitch McConnell (R-KY) signaling that he is open to working with Democrats on amendments prior to the final passage.
"I can tell you, as a proud husband of an Asian American woman, I think this discrimination against Asian Americans is a real problem," McConnell said Tuesday. "And it preceded the murders that were recently on full display, and I’m hoping we can work out an agreement."
McConnell is married to former Trump transportation secretary Elaine Chao, who is Taiwanese American.
“The fact Leader McConnell said yesterday he believes discrimination against Asian Americans is a real problem and wants to move forward and be constructive is a very good thing, and I salute him for it,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on the floor ahead of the procedural vote.
Schumer said he was open to considering changes to the bill. He is in conversations with McConnell on a package of amendments that could be considered, according to aides.
After the bill was advanced, Schumer said that he intends that the first amendment to the bill will be the bipartisan "No Hate Act" from Sens. Moran (R-KS) and Blumenthal (D-CT), which would help streamline federal response to all hate crimes.
"We're working with the Republican Leader to determine if and how many other amendments to the bill there will be, so that we can consider them and vote on final passage," Schumer said.
Though timely, the legislation is also modest, what supporters see as a first step in a federal response to the rise of Asian American hate crimes. It would assign a point person within the Justice Department to expedite the review of COVID-19-related hate crimes and provide support for local law enforcement to respond to such incidents. The department would also work to limit discriminatory language used to describe the pandemic.
One bipartisan amendment would beef up support to law enforcement, and others are expected.
Sen. Hirono said she is no longer comfortable taking a walk with her headphones listening to audio books because of the attacks on Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.
She said she hopes Republicans join in supporting the bill.
“An attack on one group in our country is truly an attack on all of us,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.