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HR 40 105th Congress House

Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act

Official title: To acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery, subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 14, 1997 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Black historyBlacksClaimsCongress
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Congressional reporting requirementsFederal advisory bodiesGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment liabilityHistoryLawMinoritiesRacial discriminationReparationsSlaveryState laws
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 29, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1548)
Jan 28, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 29, 1997

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1548)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act - Establishes the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans to examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies.

Authorizes appropriations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 5
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Jul 15, 1998
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Jul 14, 1998
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Oct 24, 1997
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · May 14, 1997
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Feb 25, 1997
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 10, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 40: Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-40/
MLA
"H.R. 40: Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-40/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 40, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-40/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 40: Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-40/)
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