WASHINGTON — The House overwhelmingly approved legislation targeting the sharp increase in reported hate crimes against Asian-Americans. It now goes to President Joe Biden for his approval.

This comes after a spike in bias incidents, including hate crimes, targeting Asian-Americans over the past year.

"We formed Stop AAPI Hate in March of 2020, because we saw the emergence of COVID-19 related hate directed at our communities,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, the co-founder of organization. “And sadly, since that time, in a one year period, we've received over 6,600 self reported incidents of hate against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. "

In March, a gunman killed eight people in shootings at three Atlanta spas. And in April, a woman was brutally attacked outside of a grocery store in New York City. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act aims to address these incidents on a federal level.

“Asian-Americans are tired of living in fear and being frightened about their kids or elderly parents going outside,” said Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York.

The bill requires the Department of Justice to expedite its handling of hate crimes and to create a position overseeing that effort. It also provides money to open hate-crime hotlines and to fight bias against Asian-Americans through educational efforts.

“[The bill] will strengthen our defenses to prevent, report and combat anti-AAPI violence and it will build steps, as I mentioned, by President Biden,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

At a time of bitter divisions in Washington, lawmakers from both parties got behind the legislation. But some Republicans worry that the hotlines could be abused since the bill doesn’t specify which incidents can be reported. They add that police departments should handle these cases.

"This violence, by and large, is happening in Democrat-controlled cities that have, by in large, defunded their police departments,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri was the only senator to vote against the bill. He believes it’s too broad.

"Senator Hawley is mistaken in terms of the bill itself,” said Kulkarni. “It does appear to be really directed at some of the harm that communities are experiencing and encouraging reporting is important."

Kulkarni believes this bill is a good first step, but she would also like to see protections for communities of color against other forms of hate that don't rise to level of criminal acts.

“Our sole focus shouldn't be on simply criminal law enforcement,” she said. “We're not going to police our way out of anti-Asian hate. Sadly, the racism that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are experiencing is systemic. It's long standing and it's complex, which means that we need comprehensive solutions.