What it does
SourcedCommission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.
The commission must (1) compile documentary evidence of slavery in the United States; (2) study the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery; (3) analyze discriminatory laws and policies against freed African slaves and their descendants; and (4) recommend ways the United States may recognize and remedy the effects of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, including through a formal apology and compensation (i.e., reparations).
The commission consists of individuals from civil society and reparations organizations and individuals appointed by the President and congressional leadership; Members of Congress and governmental employees may not serve on the commission. The commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and records, and contract with other entities to conduct its work.
The commission must submit its final report within 18 months of its first meeting.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 3, 2025).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
Sourced- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.House floor actions
- Jan 3, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
- Jan 3, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
Cosponsors
- Alma S. Adams D-NC-12
- Gabe Amo D-RI-1
- Becca Balint D-VT-At Large
- Nanette Diaz Barragán D-CA-44
- Joyce Beatty D-OH-3
- Wesley Bell D-MO-1
- Ami Bera D-CA-6
- Donald S. Beyer, Jr. D-VA-8
- Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. D-GA-2
- Everton Blair Jr. D-GA-13
- Suzanne Bonamici D-OR-1
- Shontel M. Brown D-OH-11
Show 107 more cosponsors
- Julia Brownley D-CA-26
- Janelle S. Bynum D-OR-5
- André Carson D-IN-7
- Troy A. Carter D-LA-2
- Greg Casar D-TX-35
- Ed Case D-HI-1
- Sean Casten D-IL-6
- Joaquin Castro D-TX-20
- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick D-FL-20
- Judy Chu D-CA-28
- Yvette D. Clarke D-NY-9
- Emanuel Cleaver D-MO-5
- James E. Clyburn D-SC-6
- Steve Cohen D-TN-9
- Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. D-NJ-3
- Rep. Gerald E. Connolly D-VA-11
- Jasmine Crockett D-TX-30
- Danny K. Davis D-IL-7
- Madeleine Dean D-PA-4
- Diana DeGette D-CO-1
- Suzan K. DelBene D-WA-1
- Mark DeSaulnier D-CA-10
- Maxine Dexter D-OR-3
- Lloyd Doggett D-TX-37
- Adriano Espaillat D-NY-13
- Dwight Evans D-PA-3
- Cleo Fields D-LA-6
- Shomari Figures D-AL-2
- Lizzie Fletcher D-TX-7
- Valerie P. Foushee D-NC-4
- Maxwell Frost D-FL-10
- Sylvia R. Garcia D-TX-29
- Robert Garcia D-CA-42
- Jesús G. "Chuy" García D-IL-4
- Jimmy Gomez D-CA-34
- Al Green D-TX-9
- Jahana Hayes D-CT-5
- James A. Himes D-CT-4
- Steven Horsford D-NV-4
- Val T. Hoyle D-OR-4
- Glenn Ivey D-MD-4
- Jonathan L. Jackson D-IL-1
- Sara Jacobs D-CA-51
- Pramila Jayapal D-WA-7
- Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. D-GA-4
- Sydney Kamlager-Dove D-CA-37
- Robin L. Kelly D-IL-2
- Ro Khanna D-CA-17
- Greg Landsman D-OH-1
- Summer L. Lee D-PA-12
- Teresa Leger Fernandez D-NM-3
- Mike Levin D-CA-49
- Ted Lieu D-CA-36
- Doris O. Matsui D-CA-7
- Lucy McBath D-GA-6
- Sarah McBride D-DE-At Large
- Jennifer L. McClellan D-VA-4
- Morgan McGarvey D-KY-3
- James P. McGovern D-MA-2
- LaMonica McIver D-NJ-10
- Gregory W. Meeks D-NY-5
- Analilia Mejia D-NJ-11
- Christian D. Menefee D-TX-18
- Grace Meng D-NY-6
- Kweisi Mfume D-MD-7
- Gwen Moore D-WI-4
- Jerrold Nadler D-NY-12
- Joe Neguse D-CO-2
- Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-NY-14
- Ilhan Omar D-MN-5
- Frank Pallone, Jr. D-NJ-6
- Jimmy Panetta D-CA-19
- Chellie Pingree D-ME-1
- Stacey E. Plaskett D-VI-At Large
- Mark Pocan D-WI-2
- Mike Quigley D-IL-5
- Delia C. Ramirez D-IL-3
- Linda T. Sánchez D-CA-38
- Mary Gay Scanlon D-PA-5
- Janice D. Schakowsky D-IL-9
- Rep. David Scott D-GA-13
- Robert C. "Bobby" Scott D-VA-3
- Terri A. Sewell D-AL-7
- Lateefah Simon D-CA-12
- Adam Smith D-WA-9
- Darren Soto D-FL-9
- Melanie A. Stansbury D-NM-1
- Haley M. Stevens D-MI-11
- Marilyn Strickland D-WA-10
- Rep. Eric Swalwell D-CA-14
- Mark Takano D-CA-39
- Shri Thanedar D-MI-13
- Bennie G. Thompson D-MS-2
- Dina Titus D-NV-1
- Rashida Tlaib D-MI-12
- Jill N. Tokuda D-HI-2
- Paul Tonko D-NY-20
- Ritchie Torres D-NY-15
- Lori Trahan D-MA-3
- Marc A. Veasey D-TX-33
- Nydia M. Velázquez D-NY-7
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-FL-25
- Maxine Waters D-CA-43
- Bonnie Watson Coleman D-NJ-12
- Nikema Williams D-GA-5
- Frederica S. Wilson D-FL-24