Issues
Representative Grace Meng (D-NY) sponsored H. R. 1843, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a companion to S. 937, which expedites reviews of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes. This legislation requires the Department of Justice is required to issue state, local, and tribal guidance for hate crime reporting statistics and establish grants to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. Additionally, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services will issue guidance raising the awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 18, the House approved the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act by a vote of 364-62 (House roll call vote 145). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The president signed S. 937 into law on May 20.