Valadao introduces bill to protect Sikh Americans from rising hate crimes

Bipartisan legislation aims to create DOJ task force to combat anti-Sikh discrimination

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Rep. David Valadao, a Republican from California's Central Valley, has introduced bipartisan legislation to protect Sikh Americans from rising hate crimes and discrimination. The Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act would direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish a dedicated Department of Justice task force to formally define, track and address anti-Sikh hate crimes.

Why it matters

The Central Valley is home to one of the largest Sikh communities in California, and local leaders say the legislation is monumental for shining a light on the experiences of community members who have faced hate crimes and discrimination.

The details

The legislation aims to combat hate crimes, discrimination and bullying against Sikh Americans by creating better tracking systems for these incidents. It would require the DOJ to define what constitutes anti-Sikhism, in order to better document and address these crimes.

  • The bill was introduced in February 2026.

The players

Rep. David Valadao

A Republican Congressman representing California's Central Valley who introduced the bipartisan Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act.

Manpreet Kaur

The Vice Mayor of Bakersfield, California, who called the legislation monumental for the local Sikh community.

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What they’re saying

“The Central Valley is home to a huge population. And I communicate with them regularly and have a lot of time. dialogue with them. And and so that's why I got together with some of my colleagues and introduced the bill.”

— Rep. David Valadao (turnto23.com)

“It shines a light on the experiences of local community members. And I think to be seen is to be heard and that's what this bill also allows.”

— Manpreet Kaur, Bakersfield Vice Mayor (turnto23.com)

What’s next

The bill is in its early stages and currently has 18 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to combat the rising tide of hate crimes and discrimination against Sikh Americans by creating better systems to track and address these incidents, which local leaders say is a critical step in supporting the Sikh community.