# 119-hr-40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

119-hr-40, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA); status introduced (as of 2026-10-31).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-40
- As of: 2026-10-31
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-40
- Congress: 119
- Title: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-03
- Sponsor: Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 119
- Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-31

## 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. - 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.*

## Cosponsors (119)

- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] (D-SC), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (D-CT), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-02-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] (D-CA), 2025-06-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] (D-TX), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2025-08-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-08-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] (D-CA), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2026-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2026-06-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] (D-GA), 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2026-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blair, Everton [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Commission to Study Reparations for African Americans: benefit, medium. 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,…
- Funding and contracting for the Commission: benefit, low. 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: cost, low. 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 th…
- Commission access, subpoenas, and support: mixed, low. 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 furnis…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2763: American Family Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-40 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/40)

## Related
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-2763: American Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2763)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-40 (as of 2026-10-31).