# In Rare Moment Of Bipartisan Unity, Senate Approves Asian American Hate Crimes Bill **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 23, 2021, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603 "2021-04-23T09:49:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/1 "2021-04-23T09:49:03Z")
This bill highlights a couple things. It highlights how bad Asian American discrimination has been during the pandemic and that it’s possible for Congress to work together when they choose. Also, Josh Hawley has to go. The bill provides more funding and resources for hate crimes. > **[In Rare Moment Of Bipartisan Unity, Senate Approves Asian American Hate...](https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/989773400/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bi)** > > The Senate passed new legislation to address a spike in hate crimes and violence targeted at the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Josh Hawley was the only senator to vote against it. > [@](#): > > Capping [nearly two weeks of talks](https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986749681/enough-is-enough-democrats-push-for-gop-support-on-asian-american-hate-crimes-bi) between Democrats and Republicans, the Senate approved legislation on Thursday to ramp up law enforcement efforts to better protect the Asian American and Pacific Islander community from hate crimes. > > The move marks a rare moment of bipartisan unity needed to approve the Senate legislation despite a new political era marked by increasingly bitter party divisions. > > The bill, which needed 60 votes for passage in the evenly divided Senate, was approved by a 94-1 vote. Only GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri voted no. > . . . > The legislation does highlight that in a nearly one-year period ending Feb. 28, the country has seen about 3,800 cases of related discrimination and hate crime incidents. > . . . > Through grant programs and other efforts, the legislation incentivizes law enforcement agencies to better track instances of hate crimes and establish related hotlines. It also requires the attorney general to designate a Department of Justice official to initiate a review of such hate crime reports quickly for law enforcement departments across the country. > > The attorney general would also direct guidance for agencies to take part in new, related online reporting requirements and efforts to expand public awareness campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/2 "2021-04-23T13:52:28Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Only GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri voted no. I’ve read a couple of articles, but none addressed why Hawley voted against the bill. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/3 "2021-04-23T13:59:47Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’ve read a couple of articles, but none addressed why Hawley voted against the bill. Anyone know? - He’s a racist asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/4 "2021-04-23T14:37:46Z")
> **[Josh Hawley Pummeled For Being Sole Vote Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/josh-hawley-hate-crimes-bill_n_6081fd6de4b0e7cb020cebc3)** > > Hawley was the only senator to vote against the legislation condemning hate crimes against Asian Americans. Hawley, the senator [who was seen raising a fist to pro-Trump insurrectionists](https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article248354085.html) just before the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, said he was against the bill because “it’s too broad.” “As a former prosecutor, my view is it’s dangerous to simply give the federal government open-ended authority to define a whole new class of federal hate crime incidents,” he said in a statement. His opposition to stopping hate crimes irked but apparently did not surprise critics, including his home state newspaper the Kansas City Star, [which published an editorial](https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article250875344.html#storylink=mainstage_card3) titled “Of Course Josh Hawley Was the Only No on Anti-Asian Hate Crime Bill. That’s His Brand.” ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/5 "2021-04-23T15:22:12Z")
He’s just showing how Trumpian he is. The little traitorous turd hopes he can be the next president by sucking off the same basket of dicks that the former guy did. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/6 "2021-04-23T15:51:18Z")
Go, Josh!! Someone has to stand up for hate crimes. /s ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/7 "2021-04-23T15:55:52Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’ve read a couple of articles, but none addressed why Hawley voted against the bill. Anyone know? Because he thinks there are very fine people on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/8 "2021-04-23T16:00:35Z")
My guess is he’s nodding to his base in his home state. I hate to say it but the state where I was born is pretty goddamn racist at times - not uniquely so, but definitely so. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/9 "2021-04-23T16:50:48Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > “As a former prosecutor, my view is it’s dangerous to simply give the federal government open-ended authority to define a whole new class of federal hate crime incidents,” he said in a statement. I reviewed the law and it did not define “a whole new class of federal hate crime incidents”, it uses an already existing class. Quote, [S.937](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/937/text) Sec. 3, > “[…] hate crimes (as described in section 249 of title 18, United States Code) […]” And Sec. 5(c)(1), > “[…] The term “hate crime” means an act described in section 245, 247, or 249 of title 18, United States Code, or in section 901 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 ([42 U.S.C. 3631](http://uscode.house.gov/quicksearch/get.plx?title=42§ion=3631)) […]” ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/10 "2021-04-23T16:52:35Z")
He’s wrong about that too. How surprising. /s ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/11 "2021-04-23T16:58:18Z")
It’s possible (but unlikely) that he didn’t bother to read the act. It does actually amend 18 U.S.C. 249, but only to add community service and education courses as an alternative sentencing scheme. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/12 "2021-04-23T18:41:15Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > It does actually amend 18 U.S.C. 249, but only to add community service and education courses as an alternative sentencing scheme. Someone had to stand up for the racists who don’t like education or community service. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/13 "2021-04-24T00:13:08Z")
This was likely a very carefully considered political move on Hawley’s part. His overriding goal is to be the Republican candidate for President in 2024. He needs a constituency, and it’s not enough for him to simply run as the heir to Trump – _every_ Republican candidate is going to be running as a hard-core Trumpists, including several of his colleagues in the Senate. So he needs to find ways to draw contrasts between himself and the rest of the pack. This vote certainly does that. A year from now when he’s gearing up his campaign and the shock of the Atlanta shootings has died down, he can frame this as how he was the one Senator who refused to give into political correctness and virtue signaling by opposing this do-nothing Democratic bill. In a 20 candidate field, it could get help get him enough of a following to get some plurality wins in early primaries and put him on the path to the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/14 "2021-04-24T00:16:01Z")
I think the bill is a very poor idea: hate crimes should be a crime no matter what the ethnic identity of the victim is. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/15 "2021-04-24T00:25:27Z")
I agree, I think he was pulling a page out of the Jeannette Rankin and Marjorie Taylor Green playbook. There’s no better way to make a famous name for yourself than to be the lone vote against something, especially if it’s a vote against something good. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/16 "2021-04-24T01:56:19Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I think the bill is a very poor idea: hate crimes should be a crime no matter what the ethnic identity of the victim is. The bill provides funding and direction for tracking of anti-AAPI hate crimes (and hate crimes generally in many cases) at a few different levels of government. The only change to crime and punishment is a provision allowing for alternative sentencing for all federal hate crimes, as noted here: > [@Max\_S](#): > > It’s possible (but unlikely) that he didn’t bother to read the act. It does actually amend 18 U.S.C. 249, but only to add community service and education courses as an alternative sentencing scheme. It is not creating a favored class. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/17 "2021-05-25T15:20:28Z")
“In a rare moment of bipartisan unity, Senators call on colleges and universities to end discrimination against Asian-American applicants.” Well, not yet. But it’d be nice to see. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/18 "2021-05-27T23:05:01Z")
It seems like this bill really does nothing. Reporting requirements, a hotline, a new bureaucrat to keep records. It is still just as illegal to commit violence against someone as it was last year and still a federal hate crime to target someone based on race, just as last year. “Efforts to expand public awareness”? Of what? That you shouldn’t commit violence against anyone? Because of race? Only against Asians? Does anyone think that a single hate crime will be prevented because of this public awareness campaign? Some guy was going to go beat up an Asian guy with a baseball bat, but he sees a commercial on TV saying…something…and decides not to do it??? It was an easy vote for 94 senators to get some good PR. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-rare-moment-of-bipartisan-unity-senate-approves-asian-american-hate-crimes-bill/940603/19 "2021-05-27T23:13:42Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > It seems like this bill really does nothing. Reporting requirements, a hotline, a new bureaucrat to keep records. These two sentences contradict each other, counselor. ~Max