H.R. 923: Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007

110th Congress · introduced 2007-02-08 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Became Public Law No: 110-344.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2007-02-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 512 (2007): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR923 (2007-06-20), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 110-344. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on June 20, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. (Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in a death. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of such cases. (Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 8) Terminates the effectiveness of the above provisions at the end of FY2017. (Sec. 9) Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to authorize staff of an Inspector General to assist the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by conducting reviews of inactive case files to develop recommendations for further investigations and engaging in similar activities.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] · 83 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 923, Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (2007-06-19); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 923, Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (2007-06-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Al Green (D-TX), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Kathy Castor (D-FL) and 23 more.

Recorded votes

House roll call 512 (2007): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR923 (2007-06-20): Passed

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr923.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>

Record fed-us-cong110-hr923 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110