(1) examine the institution of slavery which ex-
isted from 1619 through 1865 within the United 
States and the colonies that became the United 
States, including the extent to which the Federal 
and State Governments constitutionally and statu-
torily supported the institution of slavery; 
(2) examine de jure and de facto discrimination 
against freed slaves and their descendants from the 
end of the Civil War to the present, including eco-
nomic, political, and social discrimination; 
(3) examine the lingering negative effects of the 
institution of slavery and the discrimination de-
scribed in paragraph (2) on living African-Americans 
and on society in the United States; 
(4) recommend appropriate ways to educate the 
American public of the Commission’s findings; 
(5) recommend appropriate remedies in consid-
eration of the Commission’s findings on the matters 
described in paragraphs (1) and (2); and 
(6) submit to the Congress the results of such 
examination, together with such recommendations. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Com-
mission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Ameri-
cans (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall perform the fol-
lowing duties: 
(1) Examine the institution of slavery which ex-
isted within the United States and the colonies that 
became the United States from 1619 through 1865. 
The Commission’s examination shall include an ex-
amination of— 
(A) the capture and procurement of Afri-
cans; 
(B) the transport of Africans to the United 
States and the colonies that became the United 
States for the purpose of enslavement, including 
their treatment during transport; 
(C) the sale and acquisition of Africans as 
chattel property in interstate and instrastate 
commerce; and 
(D) the treatment of African slaves in the 
colonies and the United States, including the 
deprivation of their freedom, exploitation of 
their labor, and destruction of their culture, 
language, religion, and families. 
(2) Examine the extent to which the Federal 
and State governments of the United States sup-
ported the institution of slavery in constitutional and 
statutory provisions, including the extent to which 
such governments prevented, opposed, or restricted 
efforts of freed African slaves to repatriate to their 
homeland. 
(3) Examine Federal and State laws that dis-
criminated against freed African slaves and their de-
scendants during the period between the end of the 
Civil War and the present. 
(4) Examine other forms of discrimination in 
the public and private sectors against freed African 
slaves and their descendants during the period be-
tween the end of the Civil War and the present. 
(5) Examine the lingering negative effects of 
the institution of slavery and the matters described 
in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) on living Afri-
can-Americans and on society in the United States. 
(6) Recommend appropriate ways to educate 
the American public of the Commission’s findings. 
(7) Recommend appropriate remedies in consid-
eration of the Commission’s findings on the matters 
described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4). In 
making such recommendations, the Commission 
shall address among other issues, the following ques-
tions: