,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ajhc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #i1 #bjai,mr4   
,book] introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
read twice & 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 
! ,h4,r4 #dj ,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]y1 ! ,unit$   
,/ates ,gov]nm5t1 at ! ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & 
local levels1 cont9u$ to p]petuate1     
condone1 & (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+    
hav+ ne>ly #a1jjj1jjj ,black p          
inc>c]at$1 an unemploym5t rate m ?an    
twice ! curr5t ,:ite unemploym5t rate1 &
 an av]age ( less ?an #a_/af ( ! weal? (
 ,:ite families1 a disp>ity :i* has     
wors5$1 n improv$1 ov] "t4  7b7 ,purpose
 ,! purpose ( ?is ,act is to-- 7#a7     
e/abli% a commission to /udy & develop  
,rep>ation proposals =                  
,african-,am]icans z a result (--  7,a7 
! in/itution ( slav]y1 includ+ bo? !    
,trans-,atlantic & ! dome/ic trade :i*  
exi/$ f #aefe 9 colonial ,florida & f   
#afai ?r\gh #ahfe )9 ! o!r colonies t   
became ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & :i* includ$ ! 
,f$]al & ,/ate gov]nm5ts t              
con/itutionally & /atutorily support$ ! 
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 subp>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 ( ! in/itutions & sy/ems        
describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c7 
to societal in/itutions1 public &       
private 7includ+ high] education &      
corporations71 religi\s & associational2
  7#b7 recomm5d appropriate ways to     
educate ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( !       
,commission's f9d+s2  7#c7 recomm5d     
appropriate rem$ies 9 consid]ation ( !  
,commission's f9d+s on ! matt]s describ$

 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,f7 (       
p>agraph 7#a72 &  7#d7 submit to !      
,congress ! results ( su* exam9ation & !
 recomm5dations ( ! ,commission4  #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 compile1 &       
syn!size ! relevant corpus ( evid5ti>y  
docum5tation ( ! in/itution ( slav]y t  
exi/$ )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! colonies t 
became ! ,unit$ ,/ates f #afai ?r\gh    
#ahfe4 ,! ,commission's docum5tation &  
exam9ation %all include ! 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$om1 exploitation ( _! labor1 &      
de/ruction ( _! culture1 language1      
religion1 & families2 &  7,e7 ! ext5sive
 d5ial ( humanity1 sexual abuse1 &      
*atellization ( p]sons4  7#b7 ,exam9e ! 
role ( ! ,f$]al & ,/ate gov]nm5ts ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates 9 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 ,exam9e ! ,f$]al & ,/ate laws t    
discrim9at$ aga9/ =m]ly enslav$         
,africans & _! desc5dants :o 7 deem$    
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s f #ahfh to !      
pres5t4  7#d7 ,exam9e ! 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    

,exam9e ! l+]+ negative effects ( !     
in/itution ( slav]y & ! matt]s describ$ 
9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#d7 & 9         
subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,f7 ( section  
#b7;b77#a7 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#a7 ?r\gh
 7#e7 & 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,f7 (
 section #b7;b77#a74 ,9 mak+ su*        
recomm5dations1 ! ,commission %all      
address1 among o!r issues1 ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,h[ su* recomm5dations comport )   
int]national /&>ds ( rem$y = wrongs &   
injuries caus$ by ! ,/ate1 :i* 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#a7     
?r\gh 7#e7 & 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh  
7,f7 ( section #b7;b77#a7 c be rev]s$ & 
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$   
,africans is calculat$4  7,f7 ,:at =m ( 
comp5sation %\ld be aw>d$1 ?r\gh :at    
in/rum5talities1 & :o %\ld be eligible =
 su* comp5sation4  7,g7 ,h[1 9          
consid]ation ( ! ,commission's f9d+s1   
any o!r =ms ( rehabilitation or         
re/itution to ,african desc5dants is    
w>rant$ & :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 t is "o ye> 
aft] ! date ( ! fir/ meet+ ( !          
,commission held pursuant to section    
#d7;c74  #d4 ,memb]%ip  7a7 ,9 g5]al    
7#a7 ,numb] & appo9tm5t ,! ,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 ,qualifications ,all memb]s ( !    
,commission %all be p]sons :o are       
especially qualifi$ to s]ve on !        
,commission by virtue ( _! education1   
tra9+1 activism1 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 ,9 
g5]al ,except z provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71
 ea* memb] ( ! ,commission %all be      
comp5sat$ at a rate equal to ! daily    
equival5t ( ! annual rate ( basic pay   
e/abli%$ = a position at level ,v ( !   
,executive ,s*$ule "u section #ecaf (   
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = ea* day

 7includ+ travel "t7 dur+ :i* su* memb] 
is engag$ 9 ! p]=mance ( duties ve/$ 9 !
 ,commission4  7#b7 ,f$]al employees ,a 
memb] ( ! ,commission :o is a full-"t   
(fic] or employee ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates or a
 ,memb] ( ,congress %all receive no     
additional pay1 all[ances1 or b5efits by
 reason ( ! memb]'s s]vice to !         
,commission4  7#c7 ,travel exp5ses ,all 
memb]s ( ! ,commission %all be reimburs$
 = travel1 subsi/5ce1 & o!r necess>y    
exp5ses incurr$ by ! memb]s 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 "u ?is section4  7c7 ,obta9+       
(ficial data ,! ,commission may acquire 
directly f ! head ( any dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1
 or in/rum5tality ( ! executive bran* ( 
! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 available in=mation 
:i* ! ,commission consid]s useful 9 !   
dis*>ge ( its duties4 ,all dep>tm5ts1   
ag5cies1 & in/rum5talities ( ! executive
 bran* ( ! ,gov]nm5t %all coop]ate ) !  
,commission ) respect to su* in=mation &
 %all furni% all in=mation reque/$ by ! 
,commission to ! ext5t p]mitt$ by law4  
#f4 ,adm9i/rative provisions  7a7 ,/aff 
,! ,commission may1 )\t reg>d to ! civil
 s]vice laws & regulations1 appo9t & fix
 ! comp5sation ( su* p]sonnel z !       
,commission consid]s appropriate4  7b7  
,applicability ( c]ta9 civil s]vice laws

 ,! p]sonnel ( ! ,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* title1 
relat+ to classification & ,g5]al       
,s*$ule pay rates1 except t ! rate (    
basic pay ( any employee ( ! ,commission
 may n exce$ ! rate ( basic pay e/abli%$
 = a position at level ,v ( ! ,executive
 ,s*$ule "u section #ecaf ( su* title4  
7c7 ,exp]ts & consultants ,! ,commission
 may procure ! s]vices ( exp]ts &       
consultants 9 accordance ) ! provisions 
( section #caji7;b7 ( title #e1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 b at rates = individuals n
 to exce$ ! daily equival5t ( ! annual  
rate ( basic pay e/abli%$ = a position  
at level ,v ( ! ,executive ,s*$ule "u   
section #ecaf ( 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