Biden Urges Congress to Pass Hate Crime Prevention, Gun Control, and George Floyd Act

President Joe Biden of the United States [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] On the 28th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden urged Congress to swiftly pass hate crime prevention legislation, gun control measures, and the George Floyd law during his first joint session speech since taking office.

President Biden referred to recent gun violence incidents, including the mass shooting at massage parlors in the Atlanta area of Georgia, which resulted in eight deaths, including four Korean American women, stating, "Gun violence has become an epidemic in the United States."

President Biden called for closing loopholes in background checks conducted during gun purchases and banning assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, which frequently appear in mass shootings. He emphasized that these measures are reasonable reforms that enjoy overwhelming support from the American public, including many gun owners. He also noted that Republican lawmakers are increasingly aligning with the Democrats. President Biden stressed that gun control should not be a red (Republican) or blue (Democratic) issue but an American issue.

President Biden expressed gratitude for the Senate's passage of the 'COVID-19 Hate Crimes' bill aimed at preventing the recent wave of hate crimes against Asian Americans nationwide. He also urged the House to do the same and send the bill to his desk as soon as possible.

President Biden further emphasized that Congress must undertake police reform to address deeply rooted racial discrimination issues.

The House has already passed the 'George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,' and the Senate is preparing for debate and voting. This bill prohibits chokeholds and warrantless surprise raids by police officers and mandates that deadly force be used only as a last resort.

President Biden urged Congress to pass the bill by next month, the first anniversary of George Floyd's death, saying, "To rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, to root out structural racism within the criminal justice system, and to implement police reform in George Floyd's name, we must come together."

President Biden also expressed hope that the House would bring the Equality Act protecting LGBTQ rights to his desk, saying, "To all transgender Americans watching from home, especially the brave young people, I want you to know that the President has your back."

Additionally, President Biden called on Congress to put an end to the long-standing debate over immigration reform. He proposed, "Immigration has always been essential to America. Let's end the exhausting war over immigration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.