Skip to main content
S. 40 119th Congress Senate

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

Official title: A bill to address the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to address 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 study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its 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: January 9, 2025 Introduced by: Cory A. Booker Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Advisory bodiesCivics educationConstitution and constitutional amendmentsGovernment liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government studies and investigationsHuman rightsRacial and ethnic relationsState and local government operationsU.S. historyWar crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

What's happening now January 9, 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.

The commission must (1) compile documentary evidence of slavery in the United States; (2) study the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery; (3) analyze discriminatory laws and policies against formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants; and (4) recommend ways the United States may recognize and remedy the effects of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, including through a formal apology and compensation (i.e., reparations).

The commission consists of individuals from civil society and reparations organizations and individuals appointed by the President and congressional leadership. The commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and records, and contract with other entities to conduct its work.

The commission must submit its final report within one year of its first meeting.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-40/
MLA
"S. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-40/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 40, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-40/.
Markdown link
[S. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-40/)
Report a problem