Condemning recent hate crimes committed against Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Whereas, following the spread of COVID–19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; Whereas, between March 19, 2020, and March 31, 2022, there have been 11,467 reported anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate incidents reported from all 50 States, United States territories, and the District of Columbia; Whereas, in 2021, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 339 percent compared to the year before; Whereas the victim’s race or perceived race was the primary bias for anti-Asian, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islander hate crimes; Whereas, from March 2020 to December 2021, Asian Americans were most likely to face discrimination on public streets and businesses; Whereas, between 2000 and 2019, Asian Americans were the fastest growing ethnic and racial group in the United States, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were the third fastest growing group; Whereas, on January 28, 2021, Vicha Ratanapakdee died from injuries after being horrifically attacked in front of his home; Whereas, on February 3, 2021, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles 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 González, 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; Whereas, on April 23, 2021, Yao Pan Ma was brutally attacked while collecting cans and later died from his injuries; Whereas, on May 15, 2022, John Chen was killed at a Taiwanese church service in Laguna Hills after he heroically charged the gunman and prevented further bloodshed; Whereas, on May 17, 2022, the President of Taiwan condemned the shooting at a Taiwanese church service in Laguna Hills; and Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made significant contributions to American culture: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) affirms that the United States stands united in condemning and denouncing any and all anti-Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander sentiment in any form; (2) condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism, and anti-Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander or ethnic intolerance; and (3) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working with State and local officials, to— (A) expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports of Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific-Islander hate crimes and threats in the United States; (B) work to improve the reporting of Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific-Islander hate crimes; and (C) hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or threats accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Summary: This resolution condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism and anti-Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander or ethnic intolerance. The resolution calls on federal law enforcement officials, working with state and local officials, to expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports of hate crimes and threats against Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States; work to improve the reporting of such hate crimes; and hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or threats accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice.