Date: April 22, 2021

Subject: Providing DOJ Bureaucrats Over-Reaching New Authority via the "COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act"

Description: The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, sponsored by Sen. Hirono (D-HI), provides overly broad authority to bureaucrats within the Department of Justice to advance the enforcement of "hate crimes." Under the bill, the DOJ must issue guidance to state and local governments regarding hate crimes and establish online reporting, telephone hotlines and education campaigns. Additionally, the bill establishes new grant programs which direct millions of potentially wasteful spending to local governments and community organizations. ACU recognizes that "hate crime" statutes violate the double jeopardy clause of U.S. Constitution by allowing individuals to be tried for the same crime twice. ACU opposes providing bureaucrats within the DOJ over-reaching new authority -- especially at a time when they are doing things like tagging concerned parents as "domestic terrorists" for questioning actions of local school boards.

Result: Bill Passed, 94-1

Democrat: 46 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Not voting
Republican: 46 Yeas, 1 Nays, 3 Not voting
Independent: 2 Yeas, 0 Nays, 0 Not voting

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