WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate voted 94-1 to approve the COVID-19 Hate Crimes bill, which is aimed at growing in violence and discrimination targeted at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, the legislation creates tools for localities to act against hateful expressions. The lone negative vote was Josh Hawley, R-Missouri. Explaining himself, Hawley said that restrictions on hate speech infringed on free speech.
In favor
Tammy Baldwin D-Wisconsin
Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin
Not voting
Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee
Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
Mike Lee, R-Utah
Rand Paul, R-Kentucky
Tina Smith, D-Minnesota
Klobuchar and Smith were absent to eulogize police shooting victim Daunte Wright at his funeral in Brooklyn Center.