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H.R. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

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H.R. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

118th Congress · introduced 2023-01-09 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2023-01-09 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

Plain summary

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The commission must (1) compile documentary evidence of slavery in the United States; (2) study the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery; (3) analyze discriminatory laws and policies against freed African slaves and their descendants; and (4) recommend ways the United States may recognize and remedy the effects of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, including through a formal apology and compensation (i.e., reparations). The commission consists of individuals from civil society and reparations organizations and individuals appointed by the President and congressional leadership; Members of Congress and governmental employees may not serve on the commission. The commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and records, and contract with other entities to conduct its work. The commission must submit its final report within 18 months of its first meeting.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · 130 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), André Carson (D-IN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Ed Case (D-HI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Dina Titus (D-NV), Jill N. Tokuda (D-HI), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Sean Casten (D-IL), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Al Green (D-TX), Jason Crow (D-CO), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and 70 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong118-hr40 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong118 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong118