Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19.

H. Res. 908 In the House of Representatives, U. S., September 17, 2020. Whereas 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 7 percent of the Nation’s population in the United States; Whereas over 2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Island- ers are working on the frontlines of this COVID–19 pan- demic in health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, supermarkets, and other service indus- tries; Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric re- lated to COVID–19, such as the ‘‘Chinese Virus’’, ‘‘Wuhan Virus’’, and ‘‘Kung-flu’’ have perpetuated anti- Asian stigma; Whereas since January 2020, there has been a dramatic in- crease in reports of hate crimes and incidents against those of Asian descent; Whereas according to a recent study, there were over 400 cases related to COVID–19 anti-Asian discrimination be- tween February 9, 2020, and March 7, 2020; Whereas the increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the COVID–19 pandemic; 2 •HRES 908 EH Whereas in March 2020, anti-Asian violence includes: a woman wearing a mask was kicked and punched at a New York City subway station; two children and two adults were stabbed at a wholesale grocery in Midland, Texas; a couple was assaulted and robbed by a group of attackers in Philadelphia; and a 16-year-old boy was sent to the hospital after being attacked by bullies in Los An- geles, California; Whereas the increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has also re- sulted in Asian-American businesses being targeted for vandalism; Whereas there are approximately 2 million Asian American- owned businesses that generate over $700 billion in an- nual revenue and employ nearly 4.5 million workers; Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recog- nize that naming COVID–19 by its geographic location or linking it to a specific ethnicity perpetuates stigma; Whereas in 2015, the WHO issued guidance calling on media outlets, scientists, and national authorities to avoid nam- ing infectious diseases for locations to avoid stigmatizing groups of people; Whereas, on February 27, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services stated ‘‘ethnicity is not what causes the novel coronavirus’’ and that it is inappropriate and inac- curate to call COVID–19 the ‘‘Chinese virus’’; Whereas, on February 28, 2020, Dr. Mitch Wolfe, the Chief Medical Officer of the CDC said, ‘‘Stigma is the enemy of public health’’; 3 •HRES 908 EH Whereas, on March 10, 2020, Dr. Robert Redfield, the Direc- tor of the CDC, testified that use of the term ‘‘Chinese coronavirus’’ is wrong and inappropriate; and Whereas the Secretary General of the United Nations called for international solidarity and an end to any ill-founded discrimination of the outbreak’s victims: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) calls on all public officials to condemn and de- nounce any and all anti-Asian sentiment in any form; (2) recognizes that the health and safety of all Americans, no matter their background, must be of ut- most priority; (3) condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Asian senti- ment, scapegoating, and ethnic or religious intolerance; (4) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, work- ing with State and local officials— (A) to expeditiously investigate and document all credible reports of hate crimes and incidents and threats against the Asian-American community in the United States; (B) to collect data to document the rise of incidences of hate crimes due to COVID–19; and (C) to hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or threats accountable and bring such perpetrators to justice; and 4 •HRES 908 EH (5) recommits United States leadership in building more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant societies— (A) to prioritize language access and inclusivity in communication practices; and (B) to combat misinformation and discrimina- tion that put Asian Americans at risk. Attest: Clerk.