WASHINGTON, DC – On May 18, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) voted in support of S.937, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. This bill focuses on COVID-19 hate crimes and the dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the vote, Congresswoman Maloney, as Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will manage debate for House Democrats on Congresswoman Judy Chu’s H.Res. 275 – Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the House of Representative's commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community.

“Hate has no place in our city or nation. The spike in anti-AAPI violence around our city and country over this past year is disturbing and unacceptable,” said Rep. Maloney. “The heinous shootings in Georgia, Indianapolis, and the acts of violence in our very own backyard – Hell’s Kitchen, Central Park, on the subway, and across New York City – must be a wake-up call for all of us to the reality Asian Americans have been facing over the past year. Incidents like these are why we must always call out bigotry and hate – wherever and whenever we see it. Our AAPI neighbors have been attacked and harassed because of misinformation and xenophobia that wrongly blamed them for the COVID-19 virus. I stand in solidarity with the AAPI community today and every day. I am proud that Congress came together in a bipartisan vote to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and thank Congresswoman Meng and Senator Hirono for their leadership.”

In New York City, the number of anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the police increased by 833%, the most out of any major U.S. city. Last year, there was a 1,900% increase in violence against Asian Americans, and Asian American women were attacked at a rate almost 2.5 times more than Asian American men.