Grace Meng: Quotes and Statements
Following the Senate's passage of her COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in April 2021, Meng stated that Asian Americans had been calling out for help for more than a year and that the Senate's vote demonstrated that their pleas had been heard . She described the legislation as a bold step in combating ongoing hate and violence against Asian Americans and praised the bipartisan support the bill received .
After the House passed the bill 364 to 62 in May 2021, Meng expressed gratitude for the chamber's action and stated that she commended her colleagues for standing against the attacks on the Asian American community . She specifically thanked Senator Hirono, Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader Schumer for their roles in advancing the legislation .
In a 2021 interview about attacks on Asian Americans in New York City, Meng stated that Asian Americans are accustomed to being invisible, and that the community is not only invisible but many feel they are seen as less than human . She made these remarks in response to a widely publicized attack on an Asian woman in Midtown Manhattan where bystanders failed to intervene.
After her father's guilty plea in November 2012, Meng stated that she was deeply saddened by the events surrounding her father but affirmed that she was independent of him and always had been . Following his sentencing to one month in prison in March 2013, she stated that she loved her father, that he made no excuses for his actions, took full responsibility, and accepted the consequences . In a later interview with City & State NY, she described the period as one of the hardest times of her life, noting that it happened in the middle of her election campaign .
In introducing the Menstrual Equity for All Act, Meng stated that period products are necessary and essential items for anyone who menstruates and that access to these items is a health care and human right . She described period poverty as debilitating and demeaning, and stated that it is linked to a range of issues from economic justice to education, housing, and health care .
While sheltering in her office during the breach, Meng tweeted that there were more officers present for Black Lives Matter protests and that while she had never been scared for her life during those demonstrations, she was terrified that day . After being rescued following five hours of sheltering, she shared photos of her improvised barricade and gas masks .
After winning the June 2026 Democratic primary, Meng stated that Queens had spoken and that she was humbled and grateful for the trust the community had placed in her . She said the district clearly said to keep going, citing the investments she had delivered for families, schools, small businesses, and NYCHA communities . She congratulated her opponent Chuck Park on running a hard and spirited campaign .
During her 2026 primary, Meng acknowledged that many people were upset about Israel's actions under Prime Minister Netanyahu, including many pro-Israel politicians, but noted that her district has one of the highest Jewish populations in the country, with many residents who have family in Israel .
In July 2026, Meng condemned an ICE incident at a Las Vegas airport in which agents in plainclothes tackled an elderly Asian man, questioning how anyone could trust enforcement officers who wear no identifiable uniforms or badges and operate with impunity . She called on congressional Republicans to support stronger oversight of the agency .
Upon being elected CAPAC chair in December 2024, Meng stated that CAPAC was created to ensure the voice of the growing AANHPI community is not only heard but strongly represented at the federal level . She noted that the caucus had grown to 83 members, the largest in its 31-year history, expanding in both size and geography .