[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1775-S1776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 133--CONDEMNING ALL FORMS OF ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT AS
RELATED TO COVID-19
Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal,
Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey,
Mr. Coons, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Kaine, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Mrs.
Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Mrs.
Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Mr.
Warnock, Ms. Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Bennet, and Mrs.
Gillibrand) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 133
Whereas there are 23,000,000 Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders in the United States, constituting 7 percent of the
population of the United States;
Whereas over 2,000,000 Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders are working on the front lines of the COVID-19
pandemic as first responders and in health care, law
enforcement, transportation, supermarkets, and other service
industries;
Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric
related to COVID-19, such as the ``Chinese Virus'', ``Wuhan
Virus'', and ``Kung-flu'' have perpetuated anti-Asian stigma;
Whereas the use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in
Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated
for the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas, since January 2020, there has been a dramatic
increase in reports of hate crimes and incidents against
those of Asian descent in all 50 States and the District of
Columbia;
Whereas, according to a recent report, there were nearly
3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to
COVID-19 between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021;
Whereas, in incidents of anti-Asian violence occurring in
March 2020--
(1) a woman wearing a mask was kicked and punched at a New
York City subway station;
(2) 2 children and 2 adults were stabbed at a wholesale
grocery in Midland, Texas;
(3) a couple was assaulted and robbed by a group of
attackers in Philadelphia; and
(4) a 16-year-old boy was sent to the hospital after being
attacked by bullies in Los Angeles, California;
Whereas since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, anti-
Asian discrimination and hate has continued;
Whereas a disproportionate number of attacks, approximately
68 percent, have been directed at Asian American women;
Whereas since the start of 2021, there has been a surge in
anti-Asian attacks targeting predominantly elderly Asian
Americans;
Whereas, on January 30, 2021, an 84-year-old Thai man,
Vicha Ratanapakdee, died from injuries sustained from an
unprovoked assault while on his routine morning walk in San
Francisco, California;
Whereas, in January 2021, a series of attacks occurred in
Oakland's Chinatown targeting Asian American seniors, and
victims included a 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman,
who, in separate incidents, were violently shoved to the
ground;
Whereas, in February 2021, victims of anti-Asian violence
included--
(1) a 61-year-old Filipino man who was attacked and slashed
across his face on a New York City subway;
(2) a Filipino woman in her eighties who was punched in an
unprovoked attack while riding a trolley in San Diego; and
(3) a 52-year-old Asian woman who was attacked and
forcefully shoved while waiting in line outside a bakery in
Flushing, New York;
Whereas, on March 16, 2021, 8 people, including 6 women of
Asian descent, were shot to death at 3 Atlanta-area
businesses and this violence has heightened the pain and fear
in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community;
Whereas anti-Asian racism has also resulted in Asian
American businesses being targeted for vandalism;
Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000 Asian American-
owned businesses that generate over $700,000,000,000 in
annual revenue and employ millions of workers;
Whereas more than 1,900,000 Asian American and Pacific
Islander older adults, particularly those older adults who
are recent immigrants or have limited English proficiency,
may face even greater challenges in dealing with the COVID-19
pandemic, including discrimination, economic insecurity, and
language isolation;
Whereas the World Health Organization (referred to in this
preamble as the ``WHO'') and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (referred to in this preamble as the ``CDC'')
recognize that naming COVID-19 using geographic terms or
linking it to a specific ethnicity perpetuates stigma;
Whereas in 2015, the WHO issued guidance calling on media
outlets, scientists, and national authorities to avoid naming
infectious diseases for locations to avoid stigmatizing
groups of people;
Whereas, on February 27, 2020, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services stated, ``Ethnicity is not what causes the
novel coronavirus'' and that it is inappropriate and
inaccurate to call COVID-19 ``the Chinese virus'';
Whereas, on February 28, 2020, the Chief Medical Officer of
the CDC said that ``stigma is the enemy of public health'';
Whereas, on March 10, 2020, the Director of the CDC
testified that use of the term ``Chinese coronavirus'' is
wrong and inappropriate;
Whereas the Secretary General of the United Nations called
for international solidarity and an end to any ill-founded
discrimination; and
Whereas, on January 26, 2021, the President issued a
Presidential Memorandum ``Condemning and Combating Racism,
Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders in the United States'': Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns and denounces all forms of anti-Asian
sentiment, including those relating to COVID-19;
(2) recognizes that the health and safety of all people of
the United States, regardless of background, must be the
utmost priority;
(3) condemns all manifestations and expressions of racism,
xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Asian sentiment,
scapegoating, and ethnic or religious intolerance;
(4) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working
with State and local agencies--
(A) to expeditiously investigate and document all credible
reports of hate crimes, harassment, bullying, and threats
against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
in the United States;
(B) to expand collection of data and public reporting to
document the rise in the incidence of hate crimes relating to
COVID-19; and
(C) to hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or
threats accountable and bring such perpetrators to justice,
including through investigation and prosecution;
(5) calls on the Attorney General to work with State and
local agencies and Asian American and Pacific Islander
community-based organizations to prevent discrimination, and
expand culturally competent and linguistically appropriate
education campaigns on public reporting of hate crimes;
(6) calls on the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
coordination with the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and
Asian American and Pacific Islander community-based
organizations, to issue guidance describing best practices to
mitigate racially discriminatory language in describing the
COVID-19 pandemic; and
(7) recommits the United States to serving as a model for
the world in building a more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant
society--
(A) by prioritizing language access and inclusivity in
communication practices; and
(B) by combating misinformation and discrimination that
puts Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at risk.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President. I rise today to condemn violence and
discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)
that has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, Stop
AAPI Hate has received nearly 3,800 reports of discrimination and hate
incidents nationwide. Unfortunately, the recent surge in xenophobia and
hate specifically targeted against AAPIs is not new.
More than 180 years ago, when the first Asian immigrants came to the
United States, members of the AAPI community experienced prejudice and
legalized discrimination. Xenophobic policies such as the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Federal government's incarceration of
more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, were born
from fear, ignorance, and anti-immigrant hostility. More recently,
after the 9/11 terrorist
[[Page S1776]]
attacks, Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian Americans faced a wave of
hate incidents and blame similar to what AAPI individuals are
experiencing today. As George Santayana said, ``Those who do not
remember the past are condemned to repeat it.''
The former president espoused and amplified virulent intolerance
using slurs such as the ``China virus'' and ``kung flu'' to
characterize the COVID-19 virus, putting the lives of 23,000,000 AAPIs
at risk, including more than 2,000,000 AAPI frontline workers. Every
day, these heroic individuals put their personal health and safety on
the line to serve other Americans as health care professionals, first
responders, transit operators, and in supermarkets and other essential
service industries. However, AAPI frontline workers are not immune from
discrimination and hate, which impacts both their personal and
professional lives. Some AAPI nurses and doctors have reported
workplace harassment from other staff and patients who refuse their
care, while others have experienced terrifying encounters, including
being violently shoved, spit on, and called racial slurs during their
evening commute.
The rise in attacks against older AAPI individuals are both alarming
and unconscionable. In January 2021, three AAPI elders were violently
attacked in separate incidents in California. Tragically, one of these
individuals, Vicha Ratanapakdee, died from injuries he sustained during
an unprovoked assault, which his family believes was racially
motivated. This discrimination which includes acts of physical violence
is an additional threat elders now face as a result of the pandemic.
Older adults are at higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and AAPI
elders, particularly those who are recent immigrants or have limited
English proficiency, may face additional challenges in obtaining health
care, enduring economic insecurity, and suffering from language
isolation.
Recently, on March 16, 2021, eight people, including six women of
Asian descent, were shot to death at three Atlanta-area businesses.
During a year of increasing racism and attacks targeting AAPIs, this
latest senseless act of violence adds to the pain and fear felt by many
in the AAPI community. Our leaders must step up and confront racial
hatred and violence.
At Merrick Garland's hearing to be Attorney General of the United
States, I highlighted the surge in discrimination and hate crimes
against the AAPI community. In contrast to the Department of Justice
under the Trump administration, then-Judge Garland recognized the harm
and fear that these incidents have caused and pledged that under his
leadership, the Civil Rights Division would vigorously review and
prosecute these cases. This is the kind of leadership we need in order
to combat these crimes. I will continue to raise the issue of anti-
Asian hate with other nominees and officials to call attention to the
alarming rise of hate crimes against AAPIs and the critical need for
action.
The legislation that I have introduced, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act,
will help to address the ongoing surge in violence against AAPI
communities. It will focus federal leadership to investigate and report
hateful acts of violence, and provide resources for our communities to
come together and take a stand against intolerance and hate. The
actions of our leaders matter, and I call on my colleagues in the
United States Senate to condemn anti-Asian racism, and swiftly pass the
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act during the 117th Congress.
I yield the floor.
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