,i  #aaith ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #dj  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of    
,,representatives  ,january #c1         
#bjbe,ms4 ,pressley introduced the      
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on the ,judiciary  ,a    
,,bill  ,to address the fundamental     
injustice1 cruelty1 brutality1 and      
inhumanity of slavery in the ,united    
,states and the #ac ,american colonies  
between #afai and #ahfe and to establish
 a commission to study and consider a   
national apology and proposal for       
reparations for the institution of      
slavery1 its subsequent de jure and de  
facto racial and economic discrimination
 against ,african ,americans1 and the   
impact of these forces on living        
,african ,americans1 to make            
recommendations to the ,congress on     
appropriate remedies1 and for other     
purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act  
may be cited as the ,commission to      
,study and ,develop ,reparation         
,proposals for ,african ,americans ,act4

  #b4 ,findings and purpose  7a7        
,findings ,the ,congress finds that--   
7#a7 approximately #d1jjj1jjj ,africans 
and their descendants were enslaved in  
the ,united ,states and colonies that   
became the ,united ,states from #afai to
 #ahfe2  7#b7 the institution of slavery
 was constitutionally and statutorily   
sanctioned by the ,government of the    
,united ,states from #aghi through      
#ahfe2  7#c7 the slavery that flourished
 in the ,united ,states constituted an  
immoral and inhumane deprivation of     
,africans' life1 liberty1 ,african      
citizenship rights1 and cultural        
heritage1 and denied them the fruits of 
their own labor2  7#d7 a preponderance  
of scholarly1 legal1 community          
evidentiary documentation and popular   
culture markers constitute the basis for
 inquiry into the on-going effects of   
the institution of slavery and its      
legacy of persistent systemic structures
 of discrimination on living ,african   
,americans and society in the ,united   

,states2  7#e7 the brutal overthrow of  
,reconstruction1 which represented a    
significant but constrained moment of   
advances for ,black rights as epitomized
 by the #acth1 #adth1 and #aeth         
,amendments to the ,constitution1 the   
,civil ,rights ,acts of #ahff and #ahge 
and the ,freedman's ,bureau1 failed     
,african ,americans by failing to ensure
 their safety and security2  7#f7       
following the abolition of slavery and  
end of ,reconstruction the ,united      
,states ,government1 through laws       
enacted at the ,federal1 ,state1 and    
local level1 continued to perpetuate1   
condone and profit from practices that  
continued to brutalize and disadvantage 
,african ,americans1 including share    
cropping1 convict leasing1 ,jim ,crow1  
redlining1 unequal education1 and       
disproportionate treatment at the hands 
of the criminal justice system1         
resulting in stolen labor and ultimately
 forestalling landmark contributions in 
science1 arts1 commerce and public      

service2  7#g7 the civil rights         
movement1 and other efforts to redress  
grievances arising from systemic        
inequities1 were sabotaged1 both        
intentionally and unintentionally1 thus 
rendering the accomplishments of those  
efforts transitory and unsustainable1   
and further embedding racial inequality 
in society2  7#h7 examples of           
discriminatory ,federal ,government     
actions directed against ,african       
,americans include-- 7,a7 the creation  
of the ,federal ,housing                
,administration1 which adopted specific 
policies designed to incentivize        
residential segregation2  7,b7 the      
enactment of legislation creating the   
,social ,security program1 for which    
most ,african ,americans were purposely 
rendered ineligible during its first two
 decades2  7,c7 the ,servicemen's       
,readjustment ,act of #aidd 7commonly   
known as the ,,gi ,bill of ,rights2 #eh 
,stat4 #bhd1 chapter #bfh71 which left  
administration of its programs to the   

,states1 thus enabling discrimination   
against ,african-,american veterans2 and
  7,d7 the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act 
of #aich1 which allowed labor unions to 
discriminate based on race2 and  7#i7 as
 a result of the historic and continued 
discrimination1 ,african ,americans     
continue to suffer debilitating         
economic1 educational1 and health       
hardships including but not limited to  
having nearly #a1jjj1jjj ,black people  
incarcerated2 an unemployment rate more 
than twice the current ,white           
unemployment rate2 and an average of    
less than #a_/af of the wealth of ,white
 families1 a disparity which has        
worsened1 not improved over time4  7b7  
,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to
 establish a commission to study and    
develop ,reparation proposals for       
,african ,americans as a result of--    
7#a7 the institution of slavery1        
including both the ,trans-,atlantic and 
the domestic trade which existed from   
#aefe in colonial ,florida and from     

#afai through #ahfe within the other    
colonies that became the ,united        
,states1 and which included the ,federal
 and ,state governments which           
constitutionally and statutorily        
supported the institution of slavery2   
7#b7 the de jure and de facto           
discrimination against freed slaves and 
their descendants from the end of the   
,civil ,war to the present1 including   
economic1 political1 educational1 and   
social discrimination2  7#c7 the        
lingering negative effects of the       
institution of slavery and the          
discrimination described in paragraphs  
7#a7 and 7#b7 on living ,african        
,americans and on society in the ,united
 ,states2  7#d7 the manner in which     
textual and digital instructional       
resources and technologies are being    
used to deny the inhumanity of slavery  
and the crime against humanity of people
 of ,african descent in the ,united     
,states2  7#e7 the role of ,northern    
complicity in the ,southern based       

institution of slavery2  7#f7 the direct
 benefits to societal institutions1     
public and private1 including higher    
education1 corporations1 religious1 and 
associational2  7#g7 and thus1 recommend
 appropriate ways to educate the        
,american public of the ,commission's   
findings to advance racial healing1     
understanding1 and transformation2  7#h7
 and thus1 recommend appropriate        
remedies in consideration of the        
,commission's findings on the matters   
described in paragraphs 7#a7 through    
7#g72 and  7#i7 submit to the ,congress 
the results of such examination1        
together with such recommendations4  #c4
 ,establishment and duties  7a7         
,establishment ,there is established in 
the legislative branch the ,commission  
to ,study and ,develop ,reparation      
,proposals for ,african ,americans      
7hereinafter in this ,act referred to as
 the ,commission74  7b7 ,duties ,the    
,commission shall perform the following 
duties3 7#a7 ,identify1 compile1 and    

synthesize the relevant corpus of       
evidentiary documentation of the        
institution of slavery which existed    
within the ,united ,states and the      
colonies that became the ,united ,states
 from #afai through #ahfe4 ,the         
,commission's documentation and         
examination shall include facts related 
to-- 7,a7 the capture and procurement of
 ,africans2  7,b7 the transport of      
,africans to the ,united ,states and the
 colonies that became the ,united       
,states for the purpose of enslavement1 
including their treatment during        
transport2  7,c7 the sale and           
acquisition of ,africans and their      
descendants as chattel property in      
interstate and intrastate commerce2     
7,d7 the treatment of ,african slaves   
and their descendants in the colonies   
and the ,united ,states1 including the  
deprivation of their freedom1           
exploitation of their labor1 and        
destruction of their culture1 language1 
religion1 and families2 and  7,e7 the   

extensive denial of humanity1 sexual    
abuse1 and the chatellization of        
persons4  7#b7 ,study and analyze the   
role which the ,federal and ,state      
governments of the ,united ,states      
supported the institution of slavery in 
constitutional and statutory provisions1
 including the extent to which such     
governments prevented1 opposed1 or      
restricted efforts of formerly enslaved 
,africans and their descendants to      
repatriate to their homeland4  7#c7     
,study and analyze the effects of laws  
enacted by the ,federal ,government and 
,state governments with discriminatory  
intent or discriminatory effect on the  
formerly enslaved ,africans and their   
descendants following the overdue       
recognition of such persons as ,united  
,states citizens beginning in #ahfh4    
7#d7 ,study and analyze the other forms 
of discrimination in the public and     
private sectors against freed ,african  
slaves and their descendants who were   
belatedly accorded their rightful status

 as ,united ,states citizens from #ahfh 
to the present1 including redlining1    
educational funding discrepancies1 and  
predatory financial practices4  7#e7    
,study and analyze the lingering        
negative effects of the institution of  
slavery and the matters described in    
paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g7 of section 
#b7;b7 on living ,african ,americans and
 on society in the ,united ,states4     
7#f7 ,recommend appropriate ways to     
educate the ,american public of the     
,commission's findings to advance racial
 healing1 understanding1 and            
transformation4  7#g7 ,recommend        
appropriate remedies in consideration of
 the ,commission's findings on the      
matters described in paragraphs 7#a71   
7#b71 7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 and 7#f74 ,in   
making such recommendations1 the        
,commission shall address1 among other  
issues1 the following questions3 7,a7   
,how such recommendations comport with  
international standards of remedy for   
wrongs and injuries caused by the       

,state1 that include full reparations   
and special measures1 as understood by  
various relevant international          
protocols1 laws1 and findings4  7,b7    
,how the ,government of the ,united     
,states will offer a formal apology on  
behalf of the people of the ,united     
,states for the perpetration of gross   
human rights violations and crimes      
against humanity on ,african slaves and 
their descendants4  7,c7 ,how ,federal  
laws and policies that continue to      
disproportionately and negatively affect
 ,african ,americans as a group1 and    
those that perpetuate the lingering     
effects1 materially and psycho-social1  
can be eliminated4  7,d7 ,how the       
injuries resulting from matters         
described in paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71     
7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 and 7#f7 can be       
reversed and provide appropriate        
policies1 programs1 projects1 and       
recommendations for the purpose of      
reversing the injuries4  7,e7 ,how1 in  
consideration of the ,commission's      

findings1 any form of compensation to   
the descendants of enslaved ,africans is
 calculated4  7,f7 ,what form of        
compensation should be awarded1 through 
what instrumentalities1 and who should  
be eligible for such compensation4  7,g7
 ,how1 in consideration of the          
,commission's finding1 what forms of    
satisfaction1 in addition to apology1   
should be implemented in an effort      
toward return of dignity and racial     
healing1 and reconciliation4  7,h7 ,how1
 in consideration of the ,commission's  
findings1 any other forms of            
rehabilitation or restitution to        
,african descendants is warranted and   
what the form and scope of those        
measures should take4  7c7 ,report to   
congress ,the ,commission shall submit a
 written report of its findings and     
recommendations to the ,congress not    
later than the date which is #ah months 
after the date of the first meeting of  
the full ,commission held pursuant to   
section #d7;f74  #d4 ,membership  7a7   

,number and appointment  7#a7           
,membership ,the ,commission shall be   
composed of #ae members1 who shall be   
appointed as follows3 7,a7 ,politically 
appointed members ,not later than #fj   
days after the date of enactment of this
 ,act3 7i7 ,three members shall be      
appointed by the ,president4  7ii7      
,three members shall be appointed by the
 ,speaker of the ,house of              
,representatives1 in consultation with  
the committee of jurisdiction of the    
,house4  7iii7 ,three members shall be  
appointed by the ,president pro tempore 
of the ,senate1 in consultation with the
 committee of jurisdiction of the       
,senate4  7,b7 ,subject matter experts  
,not later than #fj days after the      
appointment of the ,director under      
section #f7;a71 six members1 who shall  
be individuals appointed by the         
,director1 and approved by a majority of
 the members appointed under            
subparagraph 7,a74 ,such individuals    
shall be from the major civil society   

and reparations organizations that have 
historically championed the cause of    
reparatory justice4  7#b7               
,qualifications ,all members of the     
,commission shall be persons who are    
especially qualified to serve on the    
,commission by virtue of their          
education1 training1 activism or        
experience1 particularly in the field of
 ,african-,american studies and         
reparatory justice4  7#c7 ,limitation   
,no person who is a member of ,congress 
or an officer or employee of the        
,federal ,government or any ,state or   
local government may serve as a member  
of the ,commission4  7b7 ,terms ,the    
term of office for members shall be for 
the life of the ,commission4 ,a vacancy 
in the ,commission shall not affect the 
powers of the ,commission and shall be  
filled in the same manner in which the  
original appointment was made4  7c7     
,quorum ,seven members of the           
,commission shall constitute a quorum1  
but a lesser number may hold hearings4  

7d7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy on the      
,commission shall-- 7#a7 not affect the 
powers of the ,commission2 and  7#b7 be 
filled in the same manner in which the  
original appointment was made4  7e7     
,chair and vice-,chair ,there shall be a
 ,chair and a ,vice ,chair of the       
,commission selected jointly by the     
majority leader of the ,senate and the  
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives1 in consultation with  
the committees of jurisdiction4 ,the    
term of office of each shall be for the 
life of the ,commission4  7f7 ,initial  
meeting of full ,commission ,the ,chair 
shall call an initial meeting of the    
full ,commission not later than #de days
 after the appointment of all members   
under subsection 7a77#a77;,b74  #e4     
,powers of the ,commission  7a7         
,hearings and evidence ,the ,commission 
may1 for purposes of carrying out this  
,act-- 7#a7 hold hearings1 sit and act  
at times and places1 take testimony1    
receive evidence1 and administer oaths2 

and  7#b7 require1 by subpoena or       
otherwise1 the attendance and testimony 
of witnesses and the production of      
books1 records1 correspondence1         
memoranda1 papers1 and documents4  7b7  
,subpoenas  7#a7 ,service ,subpoenas    
issued under this section may be served 
by any person designated by the         
,commission4  7#b7 ,enforcement  7,a7   
,in general ,in the case of contumacy or
 failure to obey a subpoena issued under
 this section1 the ,united ,states      
district court for the judicial district
 in which the subpoenaed person resides1
 is served1 or may be found1 or where   
the subpoena is returnable1 may issue an
 order requiring such person to appear  
at any designated place to testify or to
 produce documentary or other evidence4 
,any failure to obey the order of the   
court may be punished by the court as a 
contempt of that court4  7,b7           
,additional enforcement ,sections #ajb  
through #ajd of the ,revised ,statutes  
of the ,united ,states 7#b ,u4,s4,c4    

#aib through #aid7 shall apply in the   
case of any failure of any witness to   
comply with any subpoena or to testify  
when summoned under the authority of    
this section4  7,c7 ,issuance ,a        
subpoena may be issued under this       
section only-- 7i7 by the agreement of  
the ,chair and the ,vice ,chair2 or     
7ii7 by the affirmative vote of a       
majority of the ,commission1 a majority 
being present4  7c7 ,contracting ,to the
 extent or in amounts provided in       
,appropriations acts1 and subject to the
 applicable laws and regulations1 the   
,commission may enter into contracts    
with government entities1 private       
entities1 or persons for goods or       
services1 including for conducting      
research or surveys1 the preparation of 
reports1 and other activities necessary 
for the discharge of the duties of the  
,commission4  7d7 ,information from     
,federal agencies and other entities    
,the ,commission may secure directly    
from any department1 agency1 bureau1    

board1 commission1 office1 independent  
establishment1 or instrumentality of the
 ,united ,states any information related
 to any inquiry of the ,commission      
conducted under this ,act1 including    
information of a confidential nature    
7which the ,commission shall maintain in
 a secure manner74 ,each such           
department1 agency1 bureau1 board1      
commission1 office1 independent         
establishment1 or instrumentality shall 
furnish such information directly to the
 ,commission upon request4  7e7         
,administrative support services ,upon  
the request of the ,commission-- 7#a7   
the ,administrator of ,general ,services
 shall provide to the ,commission1 on a 
reimbursable basis1 the administrative  
support services necessary for the      
,commission to carry out its            
responsibilities under this ,act2 and   
7#b7 other ,federal departments and     
agencies may pro vide to the ,commission
 any administrative support services as 
may be determined by the head of such   

department or agency to be advisable and
 authorized by law4  7f7 ,donations of  
goods and services ,the ,commission may 
accept1 use1 and dispose of gifts or    
donations of services or property4  7g7 
,postal services ,the ,commission may   
use the ,united ,states mails in the    
same manner and under the same          
conditions as departments and agencies  
of the ,united ,states4  7h7 ,powers of 
subcommittees1 members1 and agents ,any 
subcommittee1 member1 or agent of the   
,commission may1 if authorized by the   
,commission1 take any action which the  
,commission is authorized to take by    
this section4  #f4 ,administrative      
provisions  7a7 ,director ,the          
,commission shall have a ,director who  
shall be1 not later than #fj days after 
the appointment of all members appointed
 under section #d7;a77#a77;,a71 jointly 
selected by the ,chair and ,vice ,chair1
 subject to approval by a majority vote 
of such members4  7b7 ,staff ,the ,chair
 and the ,vice ,chair may jointly       

appoint additional personnel1 as may be 
necessary1 to enable the ,commission to 
carry out its functions4  7c7           
,applicability of certain civil service 
laws ,the ,director and staff of the    
,commission may be appointed without    
regard to the provisions of title #e1   
,united ,states ,code1 governing        
appointments in the competitive service1
 and may be paid with out regard to the 
provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter
 ,,iii of chapter #ec of such title     
relating to classification and ,general 
,schedule pay rates1 except that no rate
 of pay fixed under this paragraph may  
exceed the equivalent of that payable   
for a position at level ,v of the       
,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf
 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4    
,any individual appointed under this    
section shall be treated as an employee 
for purposes of chapters #fc1 #ha1 #hc1 
#hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 #hi;,a1 #hi;,b1 and 
#ij of that title4  7d7 ,detailees ,any 
,federal ,government employee may be    

detailed to the ,commission without     
reimbursement from the ,commission1 and 
such detailee shall retain the rights1  
status1 and privileges of his or her    
regular employment without interruption4
  7e7 ,consultant services ,the         
,commission is authorized to procure the
 services of experts and consultants in 
accordance with section #caji of title  
#e1 ,united ,states ,code1 but at rates 
not to exceed the daily rate paid a     
person occupying a position at level    
,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under  
section #ecae of title #e1 ,united      
,states ,code4  7f7 ,compensation and   
travel expenses  7#a7 ,compensation     
,each member of the ,commission may be  
compensated at a rate not to exceed the 
daily equivalent of the annual rate of  
basic pay in effect for a position at   
level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule  
under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 for each day during     
which that member is engaged in the     
actual performance of the duties of the 

,commission4  7#b7 ,travel expenses     
,while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of
 services for the ,commission1 members  
of the ,commission shall be allowed     
travel expenses1 including per diem in  
lieu of subsistence1 in the same manner 
as persons employed intermittently in   
the ,government service are allowed     
expenses under section #egjc7;b7 of     
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4  7g7   
,nonapplicability of ,federal ,advisory 
,committee ,act ,the ,federal ,advisory 
,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47    
shall not apply to the ,commission4  #g4
 ,termination ,the ,commission shall    
terminate #ij days after the date on    
which the ,commission submits its report
 to the ,congress under section #c7;c74 
#h4 ,authorization of appropriations ,to
 carry out the provisions of this ,act1 
there are authorized to be appropriated 
#bj1jjj1jjj4