Bill Text: TX HR538 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Condemning racism against Asian Americans.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-9)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-14 - Reported enrolled [HR538 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR538-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Condemning racism against Asian Americans.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-9)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-14 - Reported enrolled [HR538 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR538-Comm_Sub.html
87R16204 TBO-D | ||
By: Vo, Harless, Howard, Thompson of Harris, | H.R. No. 538 | |
Shine, et al. |
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WHEREAS, People of Asian descent have been an integral part | ||
of Texas' culture and history for more than 150 years; and | ||
WHEREAS, Texas is home to 1.5 million Asian Americans and | ||
Pacific Islanders, and there are more than 150,000 Asian | ||
American-owned businesses across the state that generate $64 | ||
million in annual revenue; over 100,000 Texas health care workers | ||
of Asian descent are serving on the frontlines in the battle against | ||
the COVID-19 pandemic; and | ||
WHEREAS, Escalating anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in | ||
Asian Americans being attacked and scapegoated for the COVID-19 | ||
pandemic and has encouraged vandals to target Asian American | ||
businesses and institutions; in San Antonio, a Vietnamese | ||
American-owned noodle shop was vandalized with racist graffiti; in | ||
Austin, a Buddhist temple was desecrated by an intruder; and | ||
WHEREAS, Anti-Asian American hate crimes increased by almost | ||
150 percent over the previous year in America's most populous | ||
cities, and there have been more than 2,800 reported hate incidents | ||
against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from the start of the | ||
pandemic; in San Angelo, a Korean student was assaulted after | ||
standing up for himself to a racist neighbor; in Midland, a Burmese | ||
family of three, including children ages two and six, were | ||
assaulted and stabbed while shopping for groceries; eight people, | ||
including six Asian American women, who were murdered in day spas in | ||
the Atlanta, Georgia, area are the most recent casualties of | ||
anti-Asian bigotry in the United States; and | ||
WHEREAS, Hateful rhetoric and violence against Asian | ||
Americans has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, | ||
and there is much work to be done to ensure their safety and | ||
well-being; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby strongly condemn and denounce anti-Asian | ||
bigotry, racism, and all hateful speech and violent action related | ||
to COVID-19; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge federal, | ||
state, and local law enforcement officials to investigate and | ||
document all credible reports of hate crimes, incidents, and | ||
threats against the Asian American community in Texas. |