Sponsors (119)
Official title: To address the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Ayanna Pressley · Last progress January 3, 2025
The bill establishes a federally funded, empowered commission to document the harms of slavery and propose remedies—potentially advancing justice, public education, and targeted investments for descendants—while creating taxpayer costs, political and legal controversy, and governance/transparency risks that could complicate implementation.
Living African Americans (descendants of enslaved people) would get a formal, federal, evidence-based study of slavery's harms and potential remedies, creating an authoritative record to inform policy.
The study could provide a factual basis for targeted investments or policy reforms (including programs to close racial wealth and health gaps), guiding future government and private-sector actions.
The Commission's authorities (subpoenas, document requests, hearings, contractor hiring, and consultant pay) and a required multi‑member expert panel enable thorough, timely investigation and robust recommendations.
Taxpayers could face substantial costs if Congress adopts costly reparations or compensatory programs, and government scrutiny could trigger litigation and financial claims against institutions.
The Commission's findings could provoke intense political debate, legal/constitutional challenges (equal-protection issues), and contentious implementation fights that delay relief and polarize public opinion.
Appointment rules, concentrated appointment power among political leaders, an expert-approval veto, and exemption from the Federal Advisory Committee Act risk politicizing the Commission, reducing independence, and limiting transparency or public oversight.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a 15-member Commission to study slavery and discrimination and to develop reparations proposals, and authorizes $20 million to carry out the study.
Creates a 15-member federal Commission to study the history and continuing effects of slavery and related discrimination against African Americans and to develop reparations proposals, including possible apologies, monetary compensation formulas, eligibility criteria, and other remedies. The Commission must investigate historical and contemporary laws and policies, hold hearings, collect evidence (including subpoenas), and deliver a written report to Congress within 18 months of its first full meeting. Authorizes up to $20 million to carry out the Commission’s work, sets staffing and administrative rules (including a Director and pay caps tied to Executive Schedule levels), grants the Commission subpoena and contracting authority, and requires the Commission to terminate 90 days after submitting its report.