,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #dj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(             
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #c1 #bjai,ms4 
,jackson ,lee 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,s]rano1  
,mr4 ,coh51 ,mr4 ,khanna1 ,mr4 ,meeks1  
,ms4 ,moore1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,mr4        
,johnson ( ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,ms4  
,cl>ke ( ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,johnson (    
,texas1 ,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,ms4 ,s*ak[sky1  
,mr4 ,?ompson ( ,mississippi1 ,ms4 ,lee 
( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,gre5 ( ,texas1 ,ms4  
,norton1 ,mr4 ,ru%1 ,mr4 ,nadl]1 ,mr4   
,danny ,k4 ,davis ( ,ill9ois1 ,mr4      
,engel1 ,mr4 ,ri*mond1 ,ms4 ,bass1 &    
,mr4 ,evans7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !       
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to address !     
fundam5tal inju/ice1 cruelty1 brutality1
 & inhumanity ( slav]y 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 & ! #ac ,am]ican colonies betwe5 #afai 
& #ahfe & to e/abli% a commission to    
/udy & consid] a national apology &     
proposal = rep>ations = ! in/itution (  
slav]y1 its subsequ5t de jure & de facto
 racial & economic discrim9ation aga9/  

,african-,am]icans1 & ! impact ( ^! =ces
 on liv+ ,african-,am]icans1 to make    
recomm5dations to ! ,congress on        
appropriate rem$ies1 & = o!r purposes4  
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,commission to ,/udy & ,develop       
,rep>ation ,proposals =                 
,african-,am]icans ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s &  
purpose  7a7 ,f9d+s ,! ,congress f9ds   
t--  7#a7 approximately #d1jjj1jjj      
,africans & _! desc5dants 7 enslav$ 9 ! 
,unit$ ,/ates & colonies t became !     
,unit$ ,/ates f #afai to #ahfe2  7#b7 ! 
in/itution ( slav]y 0 con/itutionally & 
/atutorily sanction$ by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates f #aghi ?r\gh #ahfe2  7#c7
 ! slav]y t fl\ri%$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
con/itut$ an immoral & inhumane         
deprivation ( ,africans' life1 lib]ty1  
,african citiz5%ip rights1 & cultural   
h]itage1 & d5i$ !m ! fruits ( _! own    
labor2  7#d7 a prepond]ance ( s*ol>ly1  
legal1 community evid5ti>y docum5tation 
& popul> culture m>k]s con/itute ! basis
 = inquiry into ! on-go+ effects ( !    

in/itution ( slav]y & its legacy (      
p]si/5t sy/emic /ructures (             
discrim9ation on liv+ ,african-,am]icans
 & society 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#e7   
foll[+ ! abolition ( slav]y ! ,unit$    
,/ates ,gov]nm5t1 at ! ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & 
local level1 cont9u$ to p]petuate1      
condone & (t5 pr(it f practices t       
cont9u$ to brutalize & disadvantage     
,african-,am]icans1 includ+ %>e cropp+1 
convict leas+1 ,jim ,cr[1 r$l9+1 unequal
 education1 & disproportionate treatm5t 
at ! h&s ( ! crim9al ju/ice sy/em2 &    
7#f7 z a result ( ! hi/oric & cont9u$   
discrim9ation1 ,african-,am]icans       
cont9ue to suff] debilitat+ economic1   
educational1 & heal? h>d%ips includ+ b n
 limit$ to hav+ ne>ly #a1jjj1jjj black p
 inc>c]at$2 an unemploym5t rate m ?an   
twice ! curr5t :ite unemploym5t rate2 & 
an av]age ( less ?an #a_/af ( ! weal? ( 
:ite families1 a disp>ity :i* has       
wors5$1 n improv$ ov] "t4  7b7 ,purpose 
,! purpose ( ?is ,act is to e/abli% a   
commission to /udy & develop ,rep>ation 

proposals = ,african-,am]icans z a      
result (--  7#a7 ! in/itution ( slav]y1 
includ+ bo? ! ,trans-,atlantic & !      
dome/ic trade :i* exi/$ f #aefe 9       
colonial ,florida & f #afai ?r\gh #ahfe 
)9 ! o!r colonies t became ! ,unit$     
,/ates1 & :i* includ$ ! ,f$]al & ,/ate  
gov]nm5ts :i* con/itutionally &         
/atutorily support$ ! in/itution (      
slav]y2  7#b7 ! de jure & de facto      
discrim9ation aga9/ fre$ slaves & _!    
desc5dants f ! end ( ! ,civil ,w> to !  
pres5t1 includ+ economic1 political1    
educational1 & social discrim9ation2    
7#c7 ! l+]+ negative effects ( !        
in/itution ( slav]y & ! discrim9ation   
describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 & 7#b7 on liv+
 ,african-,am]icans & on society 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates2  7#d7 ! mann] 9 :i*      
textual & digital in/ructional res\rces 
& te*nologies are be+ us$ to d5y !      
inhumanity ( slav]y & ! crime aga9/     
humanity ( p ( ,african desc5t 9 !      
,unit$ ,/ates2  7#e7 ! role ( ,nor!rn   
complicity 9 ! ,s\!rn bas$ in/itution ( 

slav]y2  7#f7 ! direct b5efits to       
societal in/itutions1 public & private1 
includ+ high] education1 corporations1  
religi\s & associational2  7#g7 & ?us1  
recomm5d appropriate ways to educate !  
,am]ican public ( ! ,commission's f9d+s2
  7#h7 & ?us1 recomm5d appropriate      
rem$ies 9 consid]ation ( ! ,commission's
 f9d+s on ! matt]s describ$ 9 p>agraphs 
7#a71 7#b71 7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 & 7#f72 & 
7#i7 submit to ! ,congress ! results (  
su* exam9ation1 toge!r ) su*            
recomm5dations4  #c4 ,e/abli%m5t &      
duties  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is e/abli%$
 ! ,commission to ,/udy & ,develop      
,rep>ation ,proposals =                 
,african-,am]icans 7h]e9aft] 9 ?is ,act 
ref]r$ to z ! ,commission74  7b7 ,duties
 ,! ,commission %all p]=m ! foll[+      
duties3 7#a7 ,id5tify1 compile &        
syn!size ! relevant corpus ( evid5ti>y  
docum5tation ( ! in/itution ( slav]y :i*
 exi/$ )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! colonies t
 became ! ,unit$ ,/ates f #afai ?r\gh   
#ahfe4 ,! ,commission's docum5tation &  

exam9ation %all include b n be limit$ to
 ! facts relat$ to--  7,a7 ! capture &  
procurem5t ( ,africans2  7,b7 !         
transport ( ,africans to ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 & ! colonies t became ! ,unit$ ,/ates =
 ! purpose ( enslavem5t1 includ+ _!     
treatm5t dur+ transport2  7,c7 ! sale & 
acquisition ( ,africans z *attel prop]ty
 9 int]/ate & intra/ate comm]ce2  7,d7 !
 treatm5t ( ,african slaves 9 ! colonies
 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ !           
deprivation ( _! fre$om1 exploitation ( 
_! labor1 & de/ruction ( _! culture1    
language1 religion1 & families2 &  7,e7 
! ext5sive d5ial ( humanity1 sexual     
abuse & ! *atellization ( p]sons4  7#b7 
,! role :i* ! ,f$]al & ,/ate gov]nm5ts (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates support$ ! in/itution (
 slav]y 9 con/itutional & /atutory      
provisions1 includ+ ! ext5t to :i* su*  
gov]nm5ts prev5t$1 oppos$1 or re/rict$  
ef=ts ( =m]ly enslav$ ,africans & _!    
desc5dants to repatriate to _! homel&4  
7#c7 ,! ,f$]al & ,/ate laws t           
discrim9at$ aga9/ =m]ly enslav$         

,africans & _! desc5dants :o 7 deem$    
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s f #ahfh to !      
pres5t4  7#d7 ,! o!r =ms ( discrim9ation
 9 ! public & private sectors aga9/ fre$
 ,african slaves & _! desc5dants :o 7   
deem$ ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s f #ahfh to !
 pres5t1 includ+ r$l9+1 educational     
fund+ discrepancies1 & pr$atory f9ancial
 practices4  7#e7 ,! l+]+ negative      
effects ( ! in/itution ( slav]y & !     
matt]s describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a71 7#b71 
7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 & 7#f7 on liv+        
,african-,am]icans & on society 9 !     
,unit$ ,/ates4  7#f7 ,recomm5d          
appropriate ways to educate ! ,am]ican  
public ( ! ,commission's f9d+s4  7#g7   
,recomm5d appropriate rem$ies 9         
consid]ation ( ! ,commission's f9d+s on 
! matt]s describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a71     
7#b71 7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 & 7#f74 ,9 mak+ 
su* recomm5dations1 ! ,commission %all  
address among o!r issues1 ! foll[+      
que/ions3  7,a7 ,h[ su* recomm5dations  
comport ) int]national /&>ds ( rem$y =  
wrongs & injuries caus$ by ! ,/ate1 t   

include full rep>ations & special       
measures1 z und]/ood by v>i\s relevant  
int]national protocols1 laws1 & f9d+s4  
7,b7 ,h[ ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates w
 (f] a =mal apology on behalf ( ! p ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates = ! p]petration ( gross   
human rights violations & crimes aga9/  
humanity on ,african slaves & _!        
desc5dants4  7,c7 ,h[ ,f$]al laws &     
policies t cont9ue to disproportionately
 & negatively affect ,african-,am]icans 
z a gr\p1 & ^? t p]petuate ! l+]+       
effects1 mat]ially & psy*o-social1 c be 
elim9at$4  7,d7 ,h[ ! injuries result+ f
 matt]s describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a71 7#b71
 7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 & 7#f7 c be rev]s$ & 
provide appropriate policies1 programs1 
projects & recomm5dations = ! purpose ( 
rev]s+ ! injuries4  7,e7 ,h[1 9         
consid]ation ( ! ,commission's f9d+s1   
any =m ( comp5sation to ! desc5dants (  
enslav$ ,african is calculat$4  7,f7    
,:at =m ( comp5sation %\ld be aw>d$1    
?r\gh :at in/rum5talities & :o %\ld be  
eligible = su* comp5sation4  7,g7 ,h[1 9

 consid]ation ( ! ,commission's f9d+s1  
any o!r =ms ( rehabilitation or         
re/itution to ,african desc5dants is    
w>rant$ & :at ! =m & scope ( ^? measures
 %\ld take4  7c7 ,report to congress ,! 
,commission %all submit a writt5 report 
( its f9d+s & recomm5dations to !       
,congress n lat] ?an ! date :i* is "o   
ye> aft] ! date ( ! fir/ meet+ ( !      
,commission held pursuant to section    
#d7;c74  #d4 ,memb]%ip  7a7 ,numb] &    
appo9tm5t  7#a7 ,! ,commission %all be  
compos$ ( #ac memb]s1 :o %all be        
appo9t$1 )9 #ij days aft] ! date (      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 z foll[s3  7,a7    
,?ree memb]s %all be appo9t$ by !       
,presid5t4  7,b7 ,?ree memb]s %all be   
appo9t$ by ! ,speak] ( ! ,h\se (        
,repres5tatives4  7,c7 ,"o memb] %all be
 appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t pro tempore ( ! 
,s5ate4  7,d7 ,six memb]s %all be       
select$ f ! major civil society &       
rep>ations organizations t h hi/orically
 *ampion$ ! cause ( rep>atory ju/ice4   
7#b7 ,all memb]s ( ! ,commission %all be

 p]sons :o are especially qualifi$ to   
s]ve on ! ,commission by virtue ( _!    
education1 tra9+1 activism or exp]i5ce1 
p>ticul>ly 9 ! field ( ,african-,am]ican
 /udies & rep>atory ju/ice4  7b7 ,t]ms  
,! t]m ( (fice = memb]s %all be = ! life
 ( ! ,commission4 ,a vacancy 9 !        
,commission %all n affect ! p[]s ( !    
,commission & %all be fill$ 9 ! same    
mann] 9 :i* ! orig9al appo9tm5t 0 made4 
7c7 ,fir/ meet+ ,! ,presid5t %all call !
 fir/ meet+ ( ! ,commission )9 #abj days
 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act or 
)9 #cj days aft] ! date on :i*          
legislation is enact$ mak+              
appropriations to c>ry out ?is ,act1    
:i*ev] date is lat]4  7d7 ,quorum ,sev5 
memb]s ( ! ,commission %all con/itute a 
quorum1 b a less] numb] may hold he>+s4 
7e7 ,*air & vice *air ,! ,commission    
%all elect a ,*air & ,vice ,*air f among
 its memb]s4 ,! t]m ( (fice ( ea* %all  
be = ! life ( ! ,commission4  7f7       
,comp5sation  7#a7 ,except z provid$ 9  
p>agraph 7#b71 ea* memb] ( ! ,commission

 %all receive comp5sation at ! daily    
equival5t ( ! annual rate ( basic pay   
payable = ,,gs-#ah ( ! ,g5]al ,s*$ule "u
 section #eccb ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 = ea* day1 includ+ travel "t1   
dur+ :i* he or %e is engag$ 9 ! actual  
p]=mance ( duties ve/$ 9 ! ,commission4 
7#b7 ,a memb] ( ! ,commission :o is a   
full-"t (fic] or employee ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates or a ,memb] ( ,congress %all     
receive no additional pay1 all[ances1 or
 b5efits by reason ( 8 or h] s]vice to !
 ,commission4  7#c7 ,all memb]s ( !     
,commission %all be reimburs$ = travel1 
subsi/5ce1 & o!r necess>y exp5ses       
incurr$ by !m 9 ! p]=mance ( _! duties  
to ! ext5t au?oriz$ by *apt] #eg ( title
 #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #e4 ,p[]s ( !
 ,commission  7a7 ,he>+s & sessions ,!  
,commission may1 = ! purpose ( c>ry+ out
 ! provisions ( ?is ,act1 hold su* he>+s
 & sit & act at su* times & at su*      
places 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & reque/ !    
att5dance & te/imony ( su* witnesses & !
 production ( su* books1 records1       

correspond5ce1 memor&a1 pap]s1 &        
docum5ts1 z ! ,commission consid]s      
appropriate4 ,! ,commission may invoke !
 aid ( an appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates     
di/rict c\rt to require1 by subpo5a or  
o!rwise1 su* att5dance1 te/imony1 or    
production4  7b7 ,p[]s ( subcommittees &
 memb]s ,any subcommittee or memb] ( !  
,commission may1 if au?oriz$ by !       
,commission1 take any action :i* !      
,commission is au?oriz$ to take by ?is  
section4  7c7 ,obta9+ (ficial data ,!   
,commission may acquire directly f !    
head ( any dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1 or          
in/rum5tality ( ! executive bran* ( !   
,gov]nm5t1 available in=mation :i* !    
,commission consid]s useful 9 ! dis*>ge 
( its duties4 ,all dep>tm5ts1 ag5cies1 &
 in/rum5talities ( ! executive bran* ( !
 ,gov]nm5t %all coop]ate ) ! ,commission
 ) respect to su* in=mation & %all      
furni% all in=mation reque/$ by !       
,commission to ! ext5t p]mitt$ by law4  
#f4 ,adm9i/rative provisions  7a7 ,/aff 
,! ,commission may1 )\t reg>d to section

 #ecaa7;b7 ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 appo9t & fix ! comp5sation ( su* 
p]sonnel z ! ,commission consid]s       
appropriate4  7b7 ,applicability ( c]ta9
 civil s]vice laws ,! /aff ( !          
,commission may be appo9t$ )\t reg>d to 
! provisions ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code1 gov]n+ appo9tm5ts 9 ! competitive
 s]vice1 & )\t reg>d to ! provisions (  
*apt] #ea & sub*apt] ,,iii ( *apt] #ec (
 su* title relat+ to classification &   
,g5]al ,s*$ule pay rates1 except t !    
comp5sation ( any employee ( !          
,commission may n exce$ a rate equal to 
! annual rate ( basic pay payable =     
,,gs-#ah ( ! ,g5]al ,s*$ule "u section  
#eccb ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  
7c7 ,exp]ts & consultants ,! ,commission
 may procure ! s]vices ( exp]ts &       
consultants 9 accordance ) ! provisions 
( section #caji7;b7 ( title #e1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 b at rates = individuals n
 to exce$ ! daily equival5t ( ! highe/  
rate payable "u section #eccb ( su*     
title4  7d7 ,adm9i/rative support       

s]vices ,! ,commission may ent] into    
agreem5ts ) ! ,adm9i/rator ( ,g5]al     
,s]vices = procurem5t ( f9ancial &      
adm9i/rative s]vices necess>y = !       
dis*>ge ( ! duties ( ! ,commission4     
,paym5t = su* s]vices %all be made by   
reimbursem5t f funds ( ! ,commission 9  
su* am\nts z may be agre$ ^u by !       
,*airman ( ! ,commission & !            
,adm9i/rator4  7e7 ,contracts ,!        
,commission may-- 7#a7 procure supplies1
 s]vices1 & prop]ty by contract 9       
accordance ) applicable laws &          
regulations & to ! ext5t or 9 su* am\nts
 z are provid$ 9 appropriations ,acts2 &
  7#b7 ent] into contracts ) dep>tm5ts1 
ag5cies1 & in/rum5talities ( ! ,f$]al   
,gov]nm5t1 ,/ate ag5cies1 & private     
firms1 in/itutions1 & ag5cies1 = !      
conduct ( rese>* or surveys1 !          
prep>ation ( reports1 & o!r activities  
necess>y = ! dis*>ge ( ! duties ( !     
,commission1 to ! ext5t or 9 su* am\nts 
z are provid$ 9 appropriations ,acts4   
#g4 ,t]m9ation ,! ,commission %all      

t]m9ate #ij days aft] ! date on :i* !   
,commission submits its report to !     
,congress "u section #c7;c74  #h4       
,au?orization ( appropriations ,to c>ry 
out ! provisions ( ?is ,act1 !re are    
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ #ab1jjj1jjj4