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)]
<DOC>
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.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2457)
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