A resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19.

This resolution calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce anti-Asian sentiment, racism, discrimination, and religious intolerance related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), and to call on federal law enforcement officials, working with state and local officials, to take specified steps.

It calls on federal officials to expeditiously investigate and document all credible reports of hate crimes and incidents and threats against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and investigate and prosecute perpetrators.

The resolution recommits the United States to serving as a world leader in building more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant societies by (1) prioritizing language access and inclusivity in communication practices, and (2) combating misinformation and discrimination that put Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at risk.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 580 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 580

  Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2020

 Ms. Harris (for herself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. 
 Markey, Ms. Smith, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Warner, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Carper, Ms. Rosen, 
Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Brown, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Coons, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
   Whitehouse, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Casey, and Mr. 
 Booker) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19.

Whereas 23,000,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 7 percent 
        of the population in the United States;
Whereas over 2,000,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working on the 
        front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in health care, law enforcement, 
        first response, and transportation, as well as in service industries 
        that involve keeping supermarkets operational;
Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric related to COVID-19, such 
        as the ``Chinese Virus'', ``Wuhan Virus'', and ``Kung-flu'', have 
        perpetuated anti-Asian stigma;
Whereas, since January 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in reports of 
        hate crimes and incidents against those of Asian descent;
Whereas, according to a recent study, there were over 400 cases of anti-Asian 
        discrimination related to COVID-19 between February 9, 2020, and March 
        7, 2020;
Whereas the increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans 
        being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas, in incidents of anti-Asian violence occurring in March 2020, a woman 
        wearing a mask was kicked and punched at a New York City subway station, 
        2 children and 2 adults were stabbed at a wholesale grocery in Midland, 
        Texas, a couple was assaulted and robbed by a group of attackers in 
        Philadelphia, and a 16-year-old boy was sent to the hospital after being 
        attacked by bullies in Los Angeles, California;
Whereas the increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has also resulted in Asian 
        American businesses being targeted for vandalism;
Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000 Asian American-owned businesses that 
        generate over $700,000,000,000 in annual revenue and employ millions of 
        workers;
Whereas more than 1,900,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander older adults, 
        particularly those older adults who are recent immigrants or have 
        limited English proficiency, may face even greater challenges in dealing 
        with the COVID-19 pandemic, including discrimination, economic 
        insecurity, and language isolation;
Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention (CDC) recognize that naming COVID-19 by its geographic 
        location or linking COVID-19 to a specific ethnicity perpetuates stigma;
Whereas, in 2015, the WHO issued guidance calling on media outlets, scientists, 
        and national authorities to avoid naming infectious diseases for 
        locations to avoid stigmatizing groups of people;
Whereas, on February 27, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        stated, ``ethnicity is not what causes the novel coronavirus'' and that 
        it is inappropriate and inaccurate to call COVID-19 the ``Chinese 
        virus'';
Whereas, on February 28, 2020, Dr. Mitch Wolfe, the Chief Medical Officer of the 
        CDC, said, ``stigma is the enemy of public health'';
Whereas, on March 10, 2020, Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the CDC, 
        testified that use of the term ``Chinese coronavirus'' is wrong and 
        inappropriate; and
Whereas the Secretary-General of the United Nations called for international 
        solidarity and an end to any ill-founded discrimination against the 
        outbreak's victims: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce 
        anti-Asian sentiment in any form;
            (2) recognizes that the health and safety of all Americans, 
        no matter their background, must be the utmost priority;
            (3) condemns all manifestations or expressions of racism, 
        xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Asian sentiment, scapegoating, 
        and ethnic or religious intolerance;
            (4) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working 
        with State and local officials--
                    (A) to expeditiously investigate and document all 
                credible reports of hate crimes, incidents, and threats 
                against the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
                community in the United States;
                    (B) to collect data to document the rise of 
                incidents of hate crimes relating to COVID-19; and
                    (C) to hold the perpetrators of those crimes, 
                incidents, or threats accountable and bring such 
                perpetrators to justice, including through 
                investigation and prosecution; and
            (5) recommits the United States to serving as a world 
        leader in building more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant 
        societies--
                    (A) by prioritizing language access and inclusivity 
                in communication practices; and
                    (B) by combating misinformation and discrimination 
                that put Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at risk.
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