[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 74 (Thursday, April 29, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2369-S2370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 200--CONDEMNING RECENT HATE CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST 
                  ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Whitehouse, 
Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Scott of Florida, Ms. Ernst, 
Mr. Wicker, Ms. Collins, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Romney, Mr. 
Moran, Mr. Young, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Portman, Mr. Crapo, 
Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Risch, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Rubio, 
Mr. Cruz, Mr. Ossoff, and Ms. Hassan) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 200

       Whereas following the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has 
     been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against 
     Asian American and Pacific Islanders;
       Whereas between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021, 
     there have been 3,795 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian and 
     Pacific Islander hate incidents and crimes reported from all 
     50 States, United States territories, and the District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas during this timeframe, race has been cited as the 
     primary reason for discrimination, making up over 90 percent 
     of incidents;
       Whereas roughly 36 percent of these incidents took place at 
     a business and more than 2,000,000 Asian American and Pacific 
     Islander businesses have contributed to the diverse fabric of 
     American life;
       Whereas during this time, Asian American and Pacific 
     Islander youth under 20 years old make up approximately 13 
     percent of victims;
       Whereas during this time, Asian American and Pacific 
     Islander elderly over 60 years old make up approximately 7 
     percent of victims;
       Whereas, on January 28, 2021, Vicha Ratanapakdee died from 
     injuries after being horrifically attacked in front of his 
     home;
       Whereas the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles has 
     warned Thai people in California to be on their guard 
     following the killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee;
       Whereas, on March 16, 2021, the following 8 people were 
     murdered in 3 Asian American-owned spas in Atlanta, Georgia: 
     Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Paul 
     Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, 
     and Yong Ae Yue;
       Whereas 6 of the Americans killed in Atlanta on March 16, 
     2021, were women of Asian descent--Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, 
     Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong Ae 
     Yue;
       Whereas 1 of the Americans killed in Atlanta on March 16, 
     2021, was a veteran who served in the United States Army--
     Paul Andre Michels; and
       Whereas Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made 
     significant contributions to American culture: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) affirms that the United States stands united in 
     condemning and denouncing any and all anti-Asian and Pacific 
     Islander sentiment in any form;
       (2) condemns all manifestations or expressions of racism, 
     and anti-Asian and Pacific Islander or ethnic intolerance;
       (3) calls on the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 
     to strongly consider holding a hearing related to the surge 
     in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
       (4) applauds the Department of Justice's commitment to 
     conduct a 30-day review of violence against Asian Americans 
     and Pacific Islanders, which will seek to improve the Federal 
     Government's capacity to track and identify hate incidents, 
     review civil enforcement authorities, and assess whether 
     additional money is needed to support law enforcement's 
     response to the surge in violence; and
       (5) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working 
     with State and local officials--
       (A) to expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports 
     of Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes in the 
     United States;
       (B) to work to improve the reporting of Asian American and 
     Pacific Islander hate crimes; and
       (C) to hold the perpetrators of those crimes accountable 
     and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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