Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

# HR 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans **What the bill would do:** HR 40 would create a special commission tasked with studying slavery and its lasting effects on African Americans. The commission would investigate historical facts about slavery, examine how federal and state governments supported it, review discriminatory laws and policies that followed slavery's abolition, and develop recommendations for how the U.S. could address this history. These recommendations could include a formal government apology and financial compensation (reparations) to African Americans. **Who it affects and key details:** The commission would consist of appointees from civil rights organizations and government leaders, but would explicitly exclude sitting Members of Congress and federal employees.

The commission would have authority to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and documents, and conduct broader research. The bill affects all Americans by potentially informing major policy decisions, though it directly impacts African Americans as the group whose history and present circumstances would be studied. **Current status:** HR 40 is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet moved forward for a full vote in the House of Representatives. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts.