WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i) that aims to confront the sharp increase of hate crimes aimed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the legislation passed today by the Senate, Senator King has also cosponsored a Senate resolution that condemns all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, racism and discrimination. Following today’s vote, Senator King released the following statement:

“We’ve seen it time and time again – when Americans face a crisis, they overcome it by working together and supporting one another. This mindset has been fundamental to our national response to the coronavirus pandemic.  Unfortunately, some misguided people have rejected this common effort, instead embracing bigotry and harassing or attacking our Asian American friends and neighbors,” said Senator King. “This increase in racially-motivated violence is unacceptable and un-American, and I’m proud to stand alongside an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to address this horrific behavior.”