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COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Public Law 117-13 · S. 937 · 117th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Joe Biden (D) on May 20, 2021 · Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Cosponsors (44): Sen. Tammy Duckworth,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 364 yea, 62 nay364–62
  • SenateRecorded vote: 94 yea, 1 nay94–1
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.

DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.

Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.

Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.

Who voted for it

Every senator of the 117th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 94 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

94 yea1 nay5 present or did not vote

ProEstablishmentAnti
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(48)

  • Sen. Bernie SandersD-VT
  • Sen. Elizabeth WarrenD-MA
  • Sen. Ed MarkeyD-MA
  • Sen. Cory BookerD-NJ
  • Sen. Mazie HironoD-HI
  • Sen. Tammy BaldwinD-WI
  • Sen. Jon OssoffD-GA
  • Sen. Jeff MerkleyD-OR
  • Sen. Bob MenendezD-NJ
  • Sen. Brian SchatzD-HI
  • Sen. Martin HeinrichD-NM
  • Sen. Ben LujánD-NM
  • Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA
  • Sen. Patrick LeahyD-VT
  • Sen. Sherrod BrownD-OH
  • Sen. Raphael WarnockD-GA
  • Sen. Patty MurrayD-WA
  • Sen. Kirsten GillibrandD-NY
  • Sen. Jack ReedD-RI
  • Sen. Maria CantwellD-WA
  • Sen. Chris Van HollenD-MD
  • Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseD-RI
  • Sen. Richard BlumenthalD-CT
  • Sen. Ron WydenD-OR
  • Sen. Debbie StabenowD-MI
  • Sen. Tammy DuckworthD-IL
  • Sen. Christopher MurphyD-CT
  • Sen. Richard DurbinD-IL
  • Sen. Thomas CarperD-DE
  • Sen. Bob CaseyD-PA
  • Sen. Dianne FeinsteinD-CA
  • Sen. Benjamin CardinD-MD
  • Sen. Michael BennetD-CO
  • Sen. Gary PetersD-MI
  • Sen. Mark WarnerD-VA
  • Sen. Tim KaineD-VA
  • Sen. Jacky RosenD-NV
  • Sen. Christopher CoonsD-DE
  • Sen. Chuck SchumerD-NY
  • Sen. Catherine Cortez MastoD-NV
  • Sen. Jeanne ShaheenD-NH
  • Sen. John HickenlooperD-CO
  • Sen. Mark KellyD-AZ
  • Sen. Maggie HassanD-NH
  • Sen. Angus KingD-ME
  • Sen. Jon TesterD-MT
  • Sen. Kyrsten SinemaD-AZ
  • Sen. Joe ManchinD-WV

Republicans who voted yea(46)

  • Sen. Susan CollinsR-ME
  • Sen. Lisa MurkowskiR-AK
  • Sen. Mitt RomneyR-UT
  • Sen. Roy BluntR-MO
  • Sen. Lindsey GrahamR-SC
  • Sen. Shelley CapitoR-WV
  • Sen. Rob PortmanR-OH
  • Sen. Mike RoundsR-SD
  • Sen. Richard BurrR-NC
  • Sen. Roger WickerR-MS
  • Sen. Kevin CramerR-ND
  • Sen. Thom TillisR-NC
  • Sen. Jerry MoranR-KS
  • Sen. Chuck GrassleyR-IA
  • Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY
  • Sen. Todd YoungR-IN
  • Sen. John HoevenR-ND
  • Sen. Mike CrapoR-ID
  • Sen. John CornynR-TX
  • Sen. Deb FischerR-NE
  • Sen. Cindy Hyde-SmithR-MS
  • Sen. John ThuneR-SD
  • Sen. James RischR-ID
  • Sen. Bill CassidyR-LA
  • Sen. Dan SullivanR-AK
  • Sen. Richard ShelbyR-AL
  • Sen. Jim InhofeR-OK
  • Sen. John BarrassoR-WY
  • Sen. John BoozmanR-AR
  • Sen. John KennedyR-LA
  • Sen. Ben SasseR-NE
  • Sen. Joni ErnstR-IA
  • Sen. Steve DainesR-MT
  • Sen. Tim ScottR-SC
  • Sen. Pat ToomeyR-PA
  • Sen. Ron JohnsonR-WI
  • Sen. Tom CottonR-AR
  • Sen. Roger MarshallR-KS
  • Sen. Marco RubioR-FL
  • Sen. James LankfordR-OK
  • Sen. Bill HagertyR-TN
  • Sen. Cynthia LummisR-WY
  • Sen. Rick ScottR-FL
  • Sen. Mike BraunR-IN
  • Sen. Ted CruzR-TX
  • Sen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL
Data notes

The Senate’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 165 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The record shows no committee referral for this bill.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

5 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • H.R. 1843Related bill

    COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act

  • H.R. 2383Related bill

    Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2021

  • S. 728Related bill

    COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act

  • S. 963Related bill

    Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2021

  • S. 1086Related bill

    Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 29 actions.

  1. May 20, 2021Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 117-13.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. May 19, 2021FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. May 18, 2021FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · 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).House roll call 145
  6. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  7. FloorFloor · 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.
  8. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 937.
  9. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  10. FloorFloor · Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  11. Apr 26, 2021FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
  12. FloorFloor · Received in the House.
  13. Apr 22, 2021FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  14. FloorFloor · 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.Senate roll call 165
  15. FloorFloor · Considered by Senate.
  16. Apr 21, 2021FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (CR S2117)
  17. Apr 20, 2021FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S2061)
  18. FloorFloor · Considered by Senate.
  19. Apr 19, 2021FloorFloor · Considered by Senate.
  20. Apr 15, 2021FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by motion.
  21. FloorFloor · Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
  22. FloorFloor · Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1953)
  23. Apr 14, 2021FloorFloor · Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1923)
  24. FloorFloor · Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 6. Record Vote Number: 151. (CR S1923)Senate roll call 151
  25. Mar 25, 2021FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1805)
  26. FloorFloor · Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1804-1805)
  27. Mar 24, 2021CalendarCalendar · Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 13.
  28. Mar 23, 2021CalendarCalendar · Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
  29. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

47 amendments offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

Where each amendment ended up

  • S.Amdt. 1458SenateSen. Marsha BlackburnR-TN· offered Apr 21, 2021Rejected

    To improve the bill.

    Apr 22, 2021: Amendment SA 1458, under the order of 4/21/21, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 51. Record Vote Number: 164.

    Rejected

  • S.Amdt. 1457SenateSen. Mitch McConnellR-KY· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1456SenateSen. Ted CruzR-TX· offered Apr 21, 2021Rejected

    To prohibit Federal funding for any institution of higher education that discriminates against Asian Americans in recruitment, applicant review, or admissions.

    Apr 22, 2021: Amendment SA 1456, under the order of 4/21/21, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 48. Record Vote Number: 162.

    Rejected

  • S.Amdt. 1455SenateSen. Chuck SchumerD-NY· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1454SenateSen. Chuck SchumerD-NY· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1453SenateSen. Chuck SchumerD-NY· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1452SenateSen. James LankfordR-OK· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1451SenateSen. Amy KlobucharD-MN· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1450SenateSen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1449SenateSen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL· offered Apr 21, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 21, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1448SenateSen. Marsha BlackburnR-TN· offered Apr 20, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 20, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1447SenateSen. James LankfordR-OK· offered Apr 20, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 20, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1446SenateSen. Raphael WarnockD-GA· offered Apr 19, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 19, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1445SenateSen. Mazie HironoD-HI· offered Apr 19, 2021Agreed to

    To improve the bill.

    Apr 22, 2021: Amendment SA 1445 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to

  • S.Amdt. 1444SenateSen. Mazie HironoD-HI· offered Apr 15, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 15, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1443SenateSen. Tim ScottR-SC· offered Apr 15, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 15, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1442SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 15, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 15, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1441SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 15, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 15, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1440SenateSen. Rand PaulR-KY· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1439SenateSen. Roger MarshallR-KS· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1438SenateSen. Roger MarshallR-KS· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1437SenateSen. John KennedyR-LA· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1436SenateSen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1435SenateSen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1434SenateSen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1433SenateSen. Tommy TubervilleR-AL· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1432SenateSen. Jerry MoranR-KS· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1431SenateSen. Joni ErnstR-IA· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1430SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1429SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1428SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1427SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1426SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1425SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021Rejected

    To require a report on State restrictions on religious exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Apr 22, 2021: Amendment SA 1425, under the order of 4/21/21, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 48. Record Vote Number: 163.

    Rejected

  • S.Amdt. 1424SenateSen. Mike LeeR-UT· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1423SenateSen. Tom CottonR-AR· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1422SenateSen. Tom CottonR-AR· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1421SenateSen. John CornynR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1420SenateSen. John CornynR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1419SenateSen. John CornynR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1418SenateSen. John CornynR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1417SenateSen. Ted CruzR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1416SenateSen. Ted CruzR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1415SenateSen. Ted CruzR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1414SenateSen. Ted CruzR-TX· offered Apr 14, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 14, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1413SenateSen. John KennedyR-LA· offered Apr 13, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 13, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded

  • S.Amdt. 1412SenateSen. Marsha BlackburnR-TN· offered Apr 13, 2021No vote recorded

    Apr 13, 2021: Senate amendment submitted

    Offered, no vote recorded
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.