H.R. 3087

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 to strengthen the powers of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · April 29, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Watson Coleman · Committee: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Table of contents

• H.R. 3087
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Clarifying the Authorities of the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board
  • SEC. 3. Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board Extension of Tenure

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act.

SEC. 2. Clarifying the Authorities of the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board

• (a) Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board presumption of release
  • It is the sense of Congress that all records of the Federal Government and State and local governments concerning civil rights cold cases should—
    • carry a presumption of immediate disclosure; and
    • eventually be disclosed to enable the public to become fully informed about the history surrounding the cases.
• (b) Reimbursement for expenses incurred by State or local governments
  • Section 3 of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( note; ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 44 U.S.C. 2107; Public Law 115–426
    • (i) Reimbursement for expenses incurred by State or local governments
      • Upon request of a State or local government to the Review Board, the Review Board may reimburse the State or local government in full for any expense incurred by the State or local government for digitizing, photocopying, or mailing a civil rights cold case record for the purpose of transmitting such record to the Archivist for inclusion in the Collection.
• (c) Transmission to Collection of civil rights cold case records in possession of State or local government
  • Section 3(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( note; ) is amended by striking . 44 U.S.C. 2107; Public Law 115–426
• (d) No application of section 552(b)(6) to civil rights cold case records on or before January 1, 1990
  • Section 9(a)(2) of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( note; ) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting . 44 U.S.C. 2107; Public Law 115–426

SEC. 3. Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board Extension of Tenure

• Section 5(n)(1) of Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( note; ) is amended— 44 U.S.C. 2107; Public Law 115–426
  • by striking 7 yearsand inserting 11 years; and
  • by striking 7-year periodand inserting 11-year period.