President Biden Supports Meng Bill to Fight Hate Crimes

March 19, 2021
Press Release

Legislation aims to combat anti-Asian bigotry and all forms of hate; President calls on Congress to pass the bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) commended President Biden for issuing a statement today announcing his support for her COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. In the statement from the White House, the President called on Congress to swiftly pass the legislation. The measure, which Meng reintroduced last week, seeks to help combat the ongoing anti-Asian racism and violence – and all types of hate – related to the coronavirus.
"I am grateful to President Biden for his unequivocal commitment to address anti-Asian hate and violence, and for calling on Congress to pass my COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act," said Meng. "I also appreciate and thank him for acknowledging my efforts to address the problem. I introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to address the terrorizing incidents of hate and violence that's been plaguing the Asian American community throughout this pandemic. Our children, our parents, our entire community deserves to live in peace. My bill would create a position at the Department of Justice to facilitate expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes, encourage more reporting of incidents in multiple languages, and help make different communities feel more empowered to come forward and report these incidents. It would also bring our federal agencies to work with community-based organizations to find ways to talk about COVID-19 that is not racially charged. This has been a year of pain and struggle for our Asian American community. I stand with the President in urging Congress to immediately pass my bill."