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119-hr-40119th Congress

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

Sponsored By: Representative Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a federal commission to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans. It directs a new Commission to document slavery's harms, examine later discriminatory laws and practices, and recommend remedies such as a formal apology, education efforts, or compensation.

Show full summary
  • Families and descendants: The Commission must analyze the ongoing economic, educational, and health harms tied to slavery and subsequent discrimination and estimate possible compensation amounts and eligibility.
  • Communities and the public: It would evaluate school and digital instructional materials, study Northern and federal roles, and propose public education and racial healing measures.
  • Federal policymakers, researchers, and agencies: The body will have 15 members, subpoena power, authority to obtain federal records, contract researchers, set staff pay limits, and end 90 days after it delivers a report to Congress. It is funded to carry out its work.

*Authorizes $20.0 million in federal funding to carry out the Commission's work.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Commission to Study Reparations for African Americans

If enacted, this bill would create a 15-member legislative commission to study slavery, its harms, and continuing discrimination. The Commission would gather evidence and analyze federal and state roles since 1868. It would recommend remedies, including apologies, policy changes, public education, and possible monetary compensation and eligibility rules. Appointments would include three members by the President, three by the House Speaker, three by the Senate President pro tempore, and six experts appointed by the Director and approved by politically appointed members. The Commission would end 90 days after it sends its report to Congress.

Funding and contracting for the Commission

If enacted, the bill would authorize $20,000,000 to carry out the Act, subject to future appropriations. The Commission would be able to contract for research, surveys, and report preparation only to the extent that Congress provides funds and in line with applicable rules.

Pay limits for Commission staff and members

If enacted, the bill would cap pay for people who serve the Commission. Members and consultants could be paid no more than the daily equivalent of Level IV of the Executive Schedule. The Director and staff could be appointed without some usual federal hiring rules, but their pay could not exceed the Level V Executive Schedule equivalent. Travel expenses would still be allowed.

Commission access, subpoenas, and support

If enacted, the bill would let GSA and other agencies provide administrative support and detailees to the Commission, often on a reimbursable basis. The Commission would be allowed to use the mail, accept gifts, and obtain federal records, including confidential material, which agencies must furnish on request. The Commission could issue subpoenas for testimony and documents, with court enforcement and contempt penalties for noncompliance. The bill would also say the Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply, which could reduce some normal public meeting and transparency rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]

    SC • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/21/2025

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2025

  • Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 4/7/2025

  • Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2025

  • Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2025

  • Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2025

  • Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

    VI • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

  • Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/23/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/19/2025

  • Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/29/2026

  • Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2026

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2026

  • Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2026

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 6/15/2026

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 6/22/2026

  • Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 6/23/2026

  • Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2026

  • Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/13/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/13/2026

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 7/13/2026

  • Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/16/2026

  • Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 7/20/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 8/20/2026

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/31/2026

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 9/8/2026

  • Rep. Blair, Everton [D-GA-13]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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