The bill will now go to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

The Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act directs the Justice Department to expedite review of hate crimes related to the pandemic, open a hotline, and provide self-defense training. The measure gives law enforcement more resources to track incidents, and provides guidance to state agencies and community groups on reducing discriminatory acts tied to COVID-19.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in March last year, 6,000 hate crimes were committed against Americans of Asian descent, almost all of them women.