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S. 535 110th Congress Senate

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act

Official title: A bill to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Offi… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 7, 2007 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil rights enforcementCommerceCongress
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This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) 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 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 22, 2007
By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 110-88.
Jun 20, 2007
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 211.
Jun 20, 2007
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
Jun 14, 2007
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 8, 2007
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1788-1789)
Feb 8, 2007
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1788)
Feb 8, 2007
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action June 22, 2007

By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 110-88.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the Department of Justice to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in a death.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of violations of state or local laws that are similar to the federal criminal civil rights statutes. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 8) Terminates the effectiveness of the above provisions at the end of FY2017.

(Sec. 9) Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to authorize staff of an Inspector General to assist the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by conducting reviews of inactive case files to develop recommendations for further investigations and engaging in similar activities.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 923 Identical bill Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007
  • S 3348 Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008
  • S 3430 Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 3 Republican 2
R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jul 25, 2008
 R
Cornyn, John
Texas · Jun 7, 2007
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jun 7, 2007
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Jun 7, 2007
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Feb 13, 2007
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 535: Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-535/
MLA
"S. 535: Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-535/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 535, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-535/.
Markdown link
[S. 535: Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-535/)
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