United States 117th Congress ✓ Enacted · P.L. 117-13 1 D cosponsors

S 937 — COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Last action — Became Public Law No: 117-13.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 23, 2021. Enacted.

Prognosis

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

211 added · 197 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of the bill, the references to the specific section of the U.S. Code regarding hate crimes have been adjusted to remove the particular citation (section 249 of title 18, United States Code) and instead refer generally to the description of hate crimes. This change simplifies the language used but does not alter the intent of expediting the review of hate crimes. This matters because it maintains the focus on facilitating hate crime reviews while potentially allowing for a broader interpretation of what constitutes such crimes.

→
Previous
Latest
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress] [From the U.S.
[117th Congress Public Law 13] [From the U.S.
Government Publishing Office] [S.
Government Publishing Office] [[Page 135 STAT.
937 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
265]] Public Law 117-13 117th Congress An Act To facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes, and for other purposes.
937 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes, and for other purposes.
<<NOTE:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
May 20, 2021 - [S.
SHORT TITLE.
937]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE:
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.>> SECTION 1.
<<NOTE:
34 USC 10101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
FINDINGS.
<<NOTE:
34 USC 30501 note.>> FINDINGS.
(1) Following the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.
(1) Following the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian- Americans and Pacific Islanders.
(A) Xiaojie Tan.
<<NOTE:
Xiaojie Tan.
Daoyou Feng.
Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez.
Paul Andre Michels.
Soon Chung Park.
Hyun Jung Grant.
Suncha Kim.
Yong Ae Yue.>> (A) Xiaojie Tan.
(7) The people of the United States will always remember the victims of these shootings and stand in solidarity with those affected by this senseless tragedy and incidents of hate that have affected the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
(7) The people of the United States will always remember the victims of these shootings and stand in solidarity with [[Page 135 STAT.
266]] those affected by this senseless tragedy and incidents of hate that have affected the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
REVIEW OF HATE CRIMES.
<<NOTE:
(a) In General.--Not later than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall designate an officer or employee of the Department of Justice whose responsibility during the applicable period shall be to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes (as described in section 249 of title 18, United States Code) and reports of any such crime to Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement agencies.
34 USC 30501 note.>> REVIEW OF HATE CRIMES.
(a) <<NOTE:
Deadline.
Designation.>> In General.--Not later than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall designate an officer or employee of the Department of Justice whose responsibility during the applicable period shall be to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes (as described in section 249 of title 18, United States Code) and reports of any such crime to Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement agencies.
GUIDANCE.
<<NOTE:
34 USC 30501 note.>> GUIDANCE.
(b) Guidance Relating to COVID-19 Pandemic.--The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and community-based organizations, shall issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) <<NOTE:
Coordination.>> Guidance Relating to COVID-19 Pandemic.--The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and community-based organizations, shall issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JABARA-HEYER NO HATE ACT.
<<NOTE:
Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2021.
34 USC 30507.>> JABARA- HEYER NO HATE ACT.
The Hate Crime Statistics Act and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.
The Hate Crime Statistics Act and the Matthew Shepard and James [[Page 135 STAT.
267]] Byrd, Jr.
(5) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local government'' has the meaning given the term in section 901 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of (34 U.S.C.
[[Page 135 STAT.
268]] (5) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local government'' has the meaning given the term in section 901 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of (34 U.S.C.
(d) Reporting of Hate Crimes.-- (1) Implementation grants.-- (A) In general.--The Attorney General may make grants to States and units of local government to assist the State or unit of local government in implementing the National Incident-Based Reporting System, including to train employees in identifying and classifying hate crimes in the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
(d) <<NOTE:
Show all 77 changed rows (37 more)
Previous
Latest
State and local governments.>> Reporting of Hate Crimes.-- (1) Implementation grants.-- (A) In general.--The Attorney General may make grants to States and units of local government to assist the State or unit of local government in implementing the National Incident-Based Reporting System, including to train employees in identifying and classifying hate crimes in the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
(2) Reporting.-- (A) Compliance.-- (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), in each fiscal year beginning after the date that is 3 years after the date on which a State or unit of local government first receives a grant under paragraph (1), the State or unit of local government shall provide to the Attorney General, through the Uniform Crime Reporting system, information pertaining to hate crimes committed in that jurisdiction during the preceding fiscal year.
(2) Reporting.-- (A) Compliance.-- (i) <<NOTE:
Time period.
Effective date.>> In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), in each fiscal year beginning after the date that is years after the date on which a State or unit of local government first receives a grant under paragraph (1), the State or unit of local government shall provide to the Attorney General, through the Uniform Crime Reporting system, information pertaining to hate crimes committed in that jurisdiction during the preceding fiscal year.
(B) any personally identifiable information that an individual provides to an agency of the State through the hotline is not directly or indirectly disclosed, without the consent of the individual, to-- (i) any other agency of that State;
[[Page 135 STAT.
269]] (B) any personally identifiable information that an individual provides to an agency of the State through the hotline is not directly or indirectly disclosed, without the consent of the individual, to-- (i) any other agency of that State;
and (II) conducting public meetings or educational forums on the impact of hate crimes, services available to hate crime victims, and the relevant Federal, State, and local laws pertaining to hate crimes;
and [[Page 135 STAT.
270]] (II) conducting public meetings or educational forums on the impact of hate crimes, services available to hate crime victims, and the relevant Federal, State, and local laws pertaining to hate crimes;
and (ii) submit to the Attorney General a report containing the information collected under clause (i).
and (ii) <<NOTE:
(B) Semiannual law enforcement agency report.-- (i) In general.--In collecting the information required under subparagraph (A)(i), a State or unit of local government shall require each law enforcement agency that receives funding from a grant or subgrant awarded to the State or unit of local government under paragraph (2) to submit a semiannual report to the State or unit of local government that includes a summary of the law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs conducted by the agency during the reporting period to prevent, address, or otherwise respond to hate crime, particularly as those activities or programs relate to reporting hate crimes through the Uniform Crime Reports program.
Reports.>> submit to the Attorney General a report containing the information collected under clause (i).
(B) Semiannual law enforcement agency report.-- (i) <<NOTE:
Requirement.>> In general.--In collecting the information required under subparagraph (A)(i), a State or unit of local government shall require each law enforcement agency that receives funding from a grant or subgrant awarded to the State or unit of local government under paragraph (2) to submit a semiannual report to the State or unit of local government that includes a summary of the law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs conducted by the agency during the reporting period to prevent, address, or otherwise respond to hate crime, particularly as those activities or programs relate to reporting hate crimes through the Uniform Crime Reports program.
(IV) whether the agency engages in community relations functions related to hate crime, such as-- (aa) establishing a liaison with formal community-based organizations or leaders;
(IV) whether the agency engages in community relations functions related to hate crime, such as-- [[Page 135 STAT.
271]] (aa) establishing a liaison with formal community-based organizations or leaders;
(4) Compliance and redirection of funds.-- (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), beginning not later than 1 year after the date of this Act, a State or unit of local government receiving a grant or subgrant under paragraph (2) shall comply with paragraph (3).
(4) Compliance and redirection of funds.-- (A) <<NOTE:
Deadline.>> In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), beginning not later than 1 year after the date of this Act, a State or unit of local government receiving a grant or subgrant under paragraph (2) shall comply with paragraph (3).
and (B) for each calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, publish and submit to Congress a report based on the information collected and analyzed under subparagraph (A).
and (B) <<NOTE:
(2) Contents of report.--A report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include-- (A) a qualitative analysis of the relationship between-- (i) the number of hate crimes reported by State law enforcement agencies or other law enforcement agencies that received funding from a grant or subgrant awarded under paragraph (2) through the Uniform Crime Reports program;
Time period.
and (ii) the nature and extent of law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs conducted by those agencies to prevent, address, or otherwise respond to hate crime;
Effective date.>> for each calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, publish and submit to Congress a report based on the information collected and analyzed under subparagraph (A).
(2) <<NOTE:
Analysis.>> Contents of report.--A report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include-- (A) a qualitative analysis of the relationship between-- (i) the number of hate crimes reported by State law enforcement agencies or other law enforcement agencies that received funding from a grant or subgrant awarded under paragraph (2) through the Uniform Crime Reports program;
and (ii) the nature and extent of law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs conducted by [[Page 135 STAT.
272]] those agencies to prevent, address, or otherwise respond to hate crime;
``(e) Supervised Release.--If a court includes, as a part of a sentence of imprisonment imposed for a violation of subsection (a), a requirement that the defendant be placed on a term of supervised release after imprisonment under section 3583, the court may order, as an explicit condition of supervised release, that the defendant undertake educational classes or community service directly related to the community harmed by the defendant's offense.''.
``(e) <<NOTE:
Passed the Senate April 22, 2021.
Courts.
Attest:
Requirement.>> Supervised Release.--If a court includes, as a part of a sentence of imprisonment imposed for a violation of subsection (a), a requirement that the defendant be placed on a term of supervised release after imprisonment under section 3583, the court may order, as an explicit condition of supervised release, that the defendant undertake educational classes or community service directly related to the community harmed by the defendant's offense.''.
Secretary.
Approved May 20, 2021.
117th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.
937 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes, and for other purposes.
937:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol.
167 (2021):
Apr.
19, 20, 22, considered and passed Senate.
May 18, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2021):
May 20, Presidential remarks.
<all>
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. Signed by President.

  2. Signed by President.

  3. Became Public Law No: 117-13.

  4. Became Public Law No: 117-13.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2464-2472)

  9. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 937.

  10. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  11. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2479-2480)

  12. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 62 (Roll no. 145).(text: CR H2464-2466)

  13. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 62 (Roll no. 145). (text: CR H2464-2466)

  14. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  15. Received in the House.

  16. Held at the desk.

  17. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2140-2148)

  18. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 4/21/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 1. Record Vote Number: 165.(text: CR S2148-2150)

  19. Passed Senate, under the order of 4/21/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 1. Record Vote Number: 165. (text: CR S2148-2150)

  20. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  21. Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (CR S2117)

  22. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2043, S2046, S2058)

  23. Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S2061)

  24. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2002-2003)

  25. Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1953)

  26. Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

  27. Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S1998)

  28. Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 6. Record Vote Number: 151. (CR S1923)

  29. Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1923)

  30. Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1804-1805)

  31. Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1805)

  32. Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 13.

  33. Introduced in Senate

  34. Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 546 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 937?
S 937 is sponsored by Hirono, Mazie K. (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 937?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 23, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track S 937?
Track S 937 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on S 937

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of S 937

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →