Schumer says Senate will hold final vote on hate crimes bill next week

The Senate will likely vote on a bill addressing hate crimes against Asian Americans next week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday, after the Senate overwhelmingly voted to advance the legislation. Schumer said that he and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are negotiating the number of amendments to be considered for the legislation.

"I expect the Republican leader and I, in consultation with the relevant committees, will be able to figure out an appropriate number of reasonable, germane, non-gotcha amendments for the Senate to consider," Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor. The bill comes amid a spike in anti-Asian discrimination and violence during the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate voted 92 to 6 on Wednesday to open debate on the bill, which would expedite the federal government's response to hate crimes against Asian Americans and strengthen guidance for state and local government hate crime reporting. Although Republicans had raised some concerns about the bill, Senate leadership reached an agreement wherein GOP lawmakers agreed to advance the bill in exchange for votes on certain amendments.