[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1605-S1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Georgia Shootings

  Madam President, last night, near Atlanta, GA, a gunman murdered 
eight people in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. Six of 
the eight victims were women of Asian descent. We mourn the lives of 
those lost and pray for the families and loved ones.
  While local and Federal authorities are still investigating the 
gunman's motives, we know that in the past year it has been a perilous 
time for Asian Americans and those from the Pacific Islands, especially 
women.
  Since the pandemic began last March, nearly 3,800 hate incidents 
targeting these Americans have been reported. I expect the number of 
unreported incidents is much higher.
  Asian-American women have had racist insults shouted at them from 
across streets. Grandparents have been assaulted and killed while 
running errands. Some Asian Americans have even begun carrying pepper 
spray, wearing body cameras, and walking in groups to protect 
themselves from wanton violence. Increasingly, AAPI Americans do not 
feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
  This palpable fear is proof of how dangerous racist stereotypes and 
demagoguery can be. When former President Trump insists on calling the 
coronavirus the ``China virus,'' as he did again last night on FOX 
News, he is not simply spouting hateful, childish rhetoric. He is 
granting people permission. Permission to target neighbors and fellow 
citizens. Permission to hate.
  This kind of language divides and preys on fears. It offers the kind 
of answer to every problem that you might expect from these people. 
There is always somebody you could fear and someone you can hate. The 
sad reality is that racist fear-mongering has always been part of the 
American story.
  Today, we know, by testimony from the FBI Director, that it is a 
growing danger to every American. Intelligence analysts warn us that 
White supremacists and other far-right extremists are the most 
significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Of 
course, we look across the ocean to the threat of terrorism after 9/11. 
Sadly, now we have to look across the street.
  For far too long the Federal Government has failed to adequately 
address this growing threat. We saw the lethal results of that 
inattention on January 6, right here in this Senate Chamber. Groups of 
far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis, provoked by former President 
Trump, stormed our Capitol in an attempted insurrection.
  I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give law 
enforcement the resources to address this threat. It is called the 
Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. It would establish offices to combat 
domestic terrorism in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the 
Department of Homeland Security. Those offices would assess the 
domestic terrorism threat regularly so that law enforcement can focus 
their limited resources on the most significant threats, like those 
facing AAPI Americans today.

[[Page S1606]]

  My bill would also provide training and resources to assist State, 
local, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing those threats. I am 
sure communities across this Nation could use that support.
  And there is the issue of how these terrorist acts are committed. 
Last night's attack near Atlanta was a mass shooting, a uniquely 
American threat. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I 
chair, will hold a hearing on gun violence in America. Too many people 
get shot in America--not just near Atlanta but in the cities of Chicago 
and St. Louis and all across our country. How many times have we seen 
images in those communities like we did last night of another mass 
shooting? America is better than this.
  We need to take action to reduce the number of gun deaths in this 
Nation. We are going to get to work in the Senate Judiciary Committee 
to try to find some common, bipartisan ground to address it. Maybe we 
will fail. I hope we succeed. We have to try.
  It is time for the Senate to stop cowering before any special 
interest group and pass commonsense gun safety policy. To the people of 
Atlanta, to members of the AAPI community, and all across America, we 
are standing with you. We are grieving with you. We will do everything 
in our power to protect you