I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1196 
To establish a Commission for Review and Correction of Historical Injustices, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 22, 2021 
Mr. DESAULNIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Edu-
cation and Labor, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a Commission for Review and Correction of 
Historical Injustices, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Confronting and Cor-
recting Historical Injustices Act’’. 
SEC. 2. COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND CORRECTION OF 
HISTORICAL INJUSTICES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the Commission for Review and 
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Correction of Historical Injustices (in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) DUTIES
OF
COMMISSION.—The Commission 
shall— 
(1) identify and review each instance of histor-
ical injustice; 
(2) identify and review any instance in which a 
Federal agency has unjustly discriminated against 
an individual or group protected by the Civil Rights 
Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), by the Reha-
bilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 705), and members of the 
uniformed services as defined by section 101 of title 
10, United States Code, that led to a discriminatory 
charge, conviction, or dismissal of that individual or 
group; 
(3) identify and review any instance where an 
individual or group has been discriminated against 
and has not received compensation for the discrimi-
natory act of the Federal agency; 
(4) not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, establish a mechanism for the 
public to submit and be heard on each instance of 
discrimination by a Federal agency for consideration 
by the Commission; and 
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(i) civil rights; 
(ii) social justice; 
(iii) civil law; 
(iv) criminal law; 
(v) constitutional law; or 
(vi) history. 
(B) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, minority leader 
of the House of Representatives, majority lead-
er of the Senate, and minority leader of the 
Senate may solicit and receive recommendations 
from civil rights groups and submit such rec-
ommendations to the Commission for review. 
(4) TERMS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each member ap-
pointed after the initial appointments described 
in subparagraph (B) shall be appointed for 
three years. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Com-
mission shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made. 
(5) BASIC PAY.—The rate of pay for members 
of the Commission shall be set by the Chairperson 
of the Commission. 
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(6) QUORUM.—9 members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum and are required to con-
duct the duties of the Commission. 
(7) CHAIRPERSON.—One member shall be elect-
ed to serve as the chair of the Commission. 
(8) MEETINGS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act and quarterly 
thereafter, the Commission shall hold a meeting. Ad-
ditional meetings may be called by a majority of the 
members. 
(d) DIRECTOR; STAFF OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a 
Director who shall be appointed by a majority vote 
of the Commission. 
(2) STAFF.—Subject to rules prescribed by the 
Commission, the Commission shall appoint and fix 
the pay of at least 11 additional personnel as the 
Director considers appropriate. 
(3) CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTION.—The Director 
and staff shall qualify for civil service protection. 
(e) CONSULTATION.—The Commission may collabo-
rate with historians, sociologists, researchers, graduate 
students, doctoral students, law students, community 
members, formerly incarcerated or exonerated individuals, 
or other individuals directly impacted by discrimination by 
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any Federal agency to identify any appropriate instance 
to be reviewed by the Commission. 
(f) RESEARCH.—The Commission may investigate 
any instance brought to the attention of the Commission 
as described in subsection (e) and may issue a subpoena 
to any agency that a majority of the Commission deter-
mines is necessary. 
(g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and at least quar-
terly thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress 
and the appropriate congressional committees, a report in-
cluding the following: 
(1) Information on any alternative to the par-
don process, including exoneration or other forgive-
ness. 
(2) Each instance reviewed during the quarter. 
(3) Recommendations on legislative or executive 
action with respect to each instance reviewed by the 
Commission. 
(h) EXCEPTION
FOR TERMINATION
OF COMMIS-
SION.—Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the Commis-
sion. 
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(i) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means the following: 
(1) The Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives. 
(2) The Committee on the Judiciary of the Sen-
ate. 
Æ 
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