Title: A resolution condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the commitment of the Senate to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This resolution condemns the acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of eight lives in Georgia on March 16, 2021.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 199 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 199

  Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 
 2021, and reaffirming the commitment of the Senate to combating hate, 
 bigotry, and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
                               community.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 29, 2021

Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
     Blumenthal, Mr. Casey, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
 Whitehouse, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Kaine, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Brown, Mr. Padilla, Mrs. 
  Murray, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Coons, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. 
   Baldwin, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Warren, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. 
 Shaheen, Mr. Ossoff, Ms. Smith, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Booker) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 
 2021, and reaffirming the commitment of the Senate to combating hate, 
 bigotry, and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
                               community.

Whereas, on March 16, 2021, a shooter murdered 8 people and injured 1 in the 
        Atlanta, Georgia region in 3 separate shootings that took place at Asian 
        American-owned spas;
Whereas the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost--7 of 
        whom were women, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of 
        whom were immigrants;
Whereas the victims included Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley 
        Yaun Gonzalez, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung ``Julie'' 
        Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Suncha Kim;
Whereas 49-year-old Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, a hardworking mother and the owner of 
        one of the spas, was a dedicated and caring business owner who is 
        survived by her daughter and husband;
Whereas 44-year-old Daoyou Feng was an employee who recently began working at 
        one of the spas;
Whereas 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, a newlywed and mother of 2, 
        was at one of the spas to receive a couple's massage with her husband 
        when her life was cut short;
Whereas 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels was a caring husband and United States 
        Army veteran who did maintenance work for one of the spas and is 
        survived by his wife;
Whereas 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue was a mother of 2 sons who was known for her 
        kindness and generosity and her love of her pet Shih Tzu;
Whereas 74-year-old Soon Chung ``Julie'' Park was a mother and grandmother who 
        helped manage one of the spas and helped to prepare meals for the 
        employees;
Whereas 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant was a former elementary school teacher and 
        hardworking single mother who dedicated her life to raising her 2 sons;
Whereas 69-year-old Suncha Kim was a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed 
        line dancing and had been married for more than 50 years;
Whereas the Georgia shootings came in the midst of an alarming surge in anti-
        Asian hate crimes and incidents that have caused many Asian Americans 
        across the United States to feel fearful and unsafe;
Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric, whether related to the 
        COVID-19 pandemic or not, is completely unacceptable and should be 
        condemned by all people of the United States;
Whereas, in 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150 percent in 
        major cities throughout the United States;
Whereas, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, there were nearly 3,800 
        reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to COVID-19 between 
        March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021;
Whereas 68 percent of reported incidents of anti-Asian hate targeted Asian 
        American women, a population that has been historically marginalized, 
        sexualized, and fetishized;
Whereas, on March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris 
        met with Asian American leaders in Georgia and reaffirmed their strong 
        commitment to condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and violence 
        targeting the Asian American community; and
Whereas the people of the United States will always remember the victims of 
        these shootings and stand in solidarity with those affected by this 
        senseless tragedy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun 
        violence that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives in Georgia on 
        March 16, 2021;
            (2) condemns any racism and sexism in the choice of the 
        shooter to target Asian American-owned businesses and murder 6 
        women of Asian descent;
            (3) honors the memory of the victims, offers heartfelt 
        condolences to the families of the victims, and recognizes that 
        the healing process will be long and difficult for the Asian 
        American and Pacific Islander community and all communities 
        impacted by this tragedy; and
            (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States Federal 
        Government to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against 
        Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to prevent tragedies 
        like this from ever happening again.
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