Bill To Combat Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Passed By US Congress, Biden Looks Forward To Signing

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US. Hence, the Congress pass the bill in move to prevent these crimes with a 364 to 62 votes.

US Capitol (Image Source: AFP)

New Delhi: White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki has tweeted that Biden "looks forward to signing this important legislation into law at the White House later this week."

Psaki was referring to the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act which was passed by the House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote of 364 to 62. 

On Tuesday, the US House on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill aimed at combating the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the country especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, it was then sent to President Joe Biden's desk for signature.

"After a year of the Asian American community crying out for help, today Congress is taking historic action to pass long overdue hate crimes legislation and send the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to President Biden's desk," Judy Chu, Democratic congresswoman from California and chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, told reporters before the vote according to IANS. 

"The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will strengthen our defenses to prevent and combat anti-AAPI violence and will build on steps already taken by President Biden. Together these actions will make a significant difference in how we address hate crimes in America, not only during this pandemic, but for years to come," IANS quoted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as saying. 

A number of people including senior Asian-Americans have been attacked and businesses vandalized over the past few months. While videos have shown Asian Americans getting stabbed, beaten up and otherwise confronted in public spaces.

In March, a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged in the murder of eight people including six women of Asian origin who worked at massage parlours in and around Atlanta which was one of the worst attacks yet. A study by Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University San Bernardino showed, that reported hate crimes against Asian Americans in 16 of the nation's largest cities and counties have increased 164 percent since last year.