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

119-s-40, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-40
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-40
- Congress: 119
- Title: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 20
- Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Creates a Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.** This bill would set up a 13-member panel to collect evidence on slavery and later discrimination and to recommend remedies such as a formal apology and compensation. - African American individuals and families: Would identify lingering harms from slavery and systemic discrimination and propose remedies, including public education, apology, or compensation. - Civil society and reparations organizations: 6 of the 13 commissioners would come from major civil society or reparations groups, giving those movements formal seats on the panel. - Federal agencies and the public record: The commission could hold hearings, issue subpoenas, obtain agency data, and contract experts to build its case. - Congress: Would receive a final report with recommendations within one year of the commission's first meeting to inform possible legislative action. *Would authorize $12.0 million to carry out the commission's work.*

## Cosponsors (20)

- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-01-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Commission hearings and records access: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would let the Commission hold hearings, require witnesses to attend and testify, and demand documents it considers appropriate. The Commission could ask a U.S. district court to enforce subpoenas. Executive branch departments and agencies would be required to provide requested…
- Commission membership and compensation rules: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would set the Commission at 13 members and require appointments within 90 days after enactment. The President would appoint 3 members, the Speaker 3, the Senate President pro tempore 1, and 6 would come from major civil society or reparations organizations. Members must be esp…
- New federal reparations study commission: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would create a federal Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The President would call the first meeting within 120 days after enactment or within 30 days after an appropriations law, whichever is later. The Commission would have to send a…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025

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

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-40 (as of 2026-08-11).