2021: Schweikert Voted To Instruct The Justice Department To Expedite The Review And Reports Of COVID-19 Hate Crimes, Develop Guidance For Establishing An Online Hate Crime Reporting System For State And Local Law Enforcement, And Expand Public Education Campaigns. In May 2021, Schweikert voted for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "require the Justice Department to designate an employee solely responsible for facilitating the expedited review of hate crimes during and up to one year after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It would require the DOJ to issue guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies on how to establish online hate crime and incident reporting; collect data disaggregated by protected characteristics; and expand public education campaigns to raise awareness and reach victims of hate crimes." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 364-62 and was sent to the President and subsequently became law. [House Vote 145, 5/18/21; Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/21; Congressional Actions, S. 937]
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Pushed For Legislation That Addressed The Federal Government's Shortcomings In Responding To Asian American Hate During The COVID-19 Pandemic. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The 364-62 vote on the bill (S. 937) followed a monthslong push spearheaded by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to address perceived shortfalls in the federal response to a spike in hate crimes directed at Asian Americans since the start of the pandemic." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/21]
According To Stop AAPI Hate, From March 2020 To March 2021 There Were "More Than 6,600 Incidents Of Verbal Attacks, Physical Assaults And Other Incidents Targeted Against Asian Americans. " According to Congressional Quarterly, "The advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate has tracked more than 6,600 incidents of verbal attacks, physical assaults and other incidents targeted against Asian Americans from March 2020 to March 2021." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/21]
The Bill Authorized Justice Department Grants To Aid State And Local Law Enforcement With Implementing National Incident-Based Reporting System, Which Would Help With Hate Crime Reporting, Prevention, And Response, And States Would Have To Report Information To The Justice Department And Implement A Reporting Hotline. According to Congressional Quarterly, "authorize new Justice Department grants to support activities by state and local law enforcement related to hate crime reporting, prevention, and response, including to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting system and to update policies and systems, train personnel, and engage in community outreach to address hate crimes. It would require state and local governments receiving funds to report certain information to the DOJ regarding hate crimes committed and related law enforcement activities. It would also require the DOJ to make grants to states to create state-run hate crime reporting hotlines that would direct individuals to local support services and law enforcement, if appropriate." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/21]
The Bill Required Individuals Convicted Of Hate Crimes To Take Educational Classes Or Community Service On The Harmful Impacts Of Hate Crimes On Communities. According to Congressional Quarterly, "allow courts to require that an individual convicted in relation to a hate crime and placed on supervised release undertake educational classes or community service related to the community harmed by the offense." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/21]