- The US experienced itsfirst major COVID outbreak

in March and April of last year.

Right alongside, unfortunately,came a dramatic spike

in anti-Asian hate crimes.

- People are telling their grandparents

and their parents not to go outside.

People are telling theirchildren not to go play outside

even though the weather is nice.

And it's been over a yearof these sorts of feelings

and in recent weeks have only increased

with out attacks on the elderly

and the murders in Atlanta, Georgia.

- [Caitlin] Attacks like this,

too brutal to show in its entirety,

a 65-year-old Asian Americanwoman kicked and stomped

while walking to church in New York City.

In Oakland, California, two cars belonging

to Asian families set on fire,

overall, these kinds of hate crimes

up by nearly 150% in 2020.

- In the Asian American community now,

we are fighting two viruses, right?

We are fighting COVID-19 andanti-Asian hate, a virus.

- [Caitlin] Both played a partin Kim Horrigan's decision

to keep her eight-year-oldson out of school

when it reopened for in-person learning.

- It doesn't matter ifyour're Chinese American,

it doesn't matter if you'reborn and raised here.

As long a you're Asian, you're the target.

- [Caitlin] In order to prevent attacks,

state and local officialsare increasing patrols

in Asian American communities,while encouraging the public

to report any incidents.

Federal lawmakers hope a new bill

will back up those efforts.

- This legislation quitesimply gives up resources

to make it easier forour federal government

to record this data andmakes it easier for victims

to report this data.

- [Caitlin] The bill wouldrequire the Justice Department

to make investigatingCOVID-related hate crimes

a priority and provide localpolice with more resources

to respond to the violence.

- This is the first timethat we will stand up

as a body to say that wecondemn these kinds of crimes

and we are gonna recognize itfor what it is, hate crimes,

and we are going to do something about it.

This is very bipartisanand I worked very closely

with Susan Collins.

- Now that the Senate has passed the bill,

the Democrat-led Houseplans to follow suit.

It then heads to President Biden

who's expected to sign it into law.

Caitlin Burke, CBN News.