Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

Bill Number

H.R. 40

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-06-26T08:07:16Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act," aims to acknowledge the historical injustices of slavery in the United States from 1619 to 1865, along with ongoing racial and economic discrimination against African Americans. It establishes a commission to examine these issues, consider a national apology, and propose reparations (payments or other remedies for past wrongs) to address their lasting effects on living African Americans and society.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Commission: Creates a 15-member Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans in the legislative branch. Members include politically appointed individuals (three each by the President, House Speaker, and Senate President pro tempore) and six experts from civil society and reparations organizations, selected by a director and approved by the political appointees.
• Duties of the Commission:
• Compile evidence on slavery, including capture, transport, sale, treatment, and denial of humanity to enslaved Africans.
• Analyze federal and state government roles in supporting slavery and post-slavery discrimination (e.g., Jim Crow laws, redlining, unequal education).
• Examine lingering effects on African Americans today, such as economic disparities, health issues, and incarceration rates.
• Recommend ways to educate the public for racial healing and propose remedies, including apologies, policy changes, compensation calculations, eligibility for payments, and other forms of restitution or rehabilitation.
• Align recommendations with international standards for addressing state-caused harms.
• Operations and Powers: The Commission can hold hearings, issue subpoenas (court orders for testimony or documents), contract for research, access federal information, and receive donations. It must submit a report to Congress within 18 months of its first full meeting.
• Structure and Support: Includes a director, staff, and detailed federal employees. Members serve for the Commission's life (ending 90 days after reporting). Compensation is capped at executive pay levels; $20 million is authorized for funding.
• Exemptions: Not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, allowing more flexible operations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces no direct amendments to current laws but creates a new temporary commission, which is unprecedented in focusing specifically on studying and proposing reparations for slavery and its aftermath. It builds on historical acknowledgments (e.g., civil rights laws) by mandating a formal examination of government complicity in discrimination, potentially leading to future legislative changes like policy reforms or compensation programs. Unlike prior commissions (e.g., on civil rights), it explicitly addresses reparations, including economic calculations and international comparisons.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Requires federal agencies to provide information and support, potentially straining resources during the 18-month study. Could lead to recommendations for eliminating discriminatory policies, affecting agencies like Housing and Urban Development (e.g., ending redlining effects) or Justice (e.g., criminal justice reforms).
• On Citizens: May foster public education and dialogue on racial history, promoting healing but also sparking debate. African Americans could benefit from proposed remedies like compensation or programs addressing wealth gaps, though implementation depends on future Congress action.
• On International Relations: Recommendations tied to global human rights standards (e.g., UN protocols on reparations) could enhance U.S. credibility on racial justice issues, but a formal apology might influence diplomatic ties with African nations or draw international scrutiny if not acted upon.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• African Americans: Primary beneficiaries as descendants of enslaved people, potentially gaining from reparations, apologies, and policies reversing discrimination's effects.
• Federal and State Governments: Involved in providing data, facing potential policy overhauls, and implementing recommendations.
• Civil Society and Reparations Organizations: Experts from groups advocating for racial justice will shape the Commission and its findings.
• Broader U.S. Society: Includes educators, corporations, religious institutions, and higher education entities that profited from or perpetuated slavery, who may need to address historical roles through education or restitution.
• Taxpayers: Fund the $20 million Commission via appropriations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Empowers subpoenas enforceable by courts, raising due process concerns if challenged. Recommendations could prompt lawsuits over compensation eligibility or equal protection under the 14th Amendment (which guarantees fair treatment under law).
• Constitutional: Invokes amendments like the 13th (abolishing slavery), 14th, and 15th (voting rights), highlighting government failures in upholding them. A national apology might set precedent for acknowledging constitutional violations without direct liability.
• Political: As a bipartisan-appointment body, it could bridge divides but risks polarization over reparations' feasibility and cost. Politically, it signals commitment to racial equity but may face opposition on grounds of historical accountability, influencing elections and party platforms without immediate enforceable changes.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

Cosponsors (108)

Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] and 58 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (19 pages)