Sponsors (110)
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 empowered Commission to document slavery's harms and propose reparative remedies—potentially advancing justice, education, and targeted investment for descendants of enslaved people—while creating risks of significant taxpayer cost, politicization, reduced transparency, legal challenges, and uncertain implementation.
Living African Americans would get a formal, evidence-based federal study of slavery's harms and remedies that could produce concrete policy proposals (apologies, restitution, targeted investments) if Congress acts.
Taxpayers and the public gain an empowered 15‑member Commission with investigation tools (hearings, subpoenas), staff and contractor authority to develop expert-driven recommendations and hold institutions/accountable.
Students, educators, and the broader public would benefit from mandated documentation and public-education recommendations that aim to improve understanding of slavery's legacy and advance racial healing.
Taxpayers (and federal budget) could face substantial costs if Congress adopts costly reparations or compensatory programs recommended by the Commission.
The Commission's composition and appointment rules concentrate power among high-level political leaders and include veto-like approvals, creating a risk of politicized membership that could undermine independence and public trust.
The bill reduces transparency and ordinary civil‑service safeguards (FACA exemption, noncompetitive hiring, gifts/contracts authority), increasing risks of limited public oversight, conflicts of interest, and weaker accountability for staff.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a 15-member Commission to study slavery and discrimination and to recommend reparations, with subpoena power and $20 million authorized.
Creates a 15-member, time-limited federal Commission to study the history and lasting effects of slavery and related discrimination against African Americans and to develop reparations proposals, including possible apologies, forms of compensation, eligibility rules, and public-education measures. The Commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, collect documents (including confidential federal records), hire staff and consultants, and must deliver a written report to Congress within 18 months of its first full meeting. The bill authorizes $20 million to carry out the Commission’s work and orders the Commission to terminate 90 days after submitting its report.