(9) submit to the Congress the results of such 
examination, together with such recommendations. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
legislative branch the Commission to Study and Develop 
Reparation Proposals for African Americans (hereinafter 
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall perform the fol-
lowing duties: 
(1) Identify, compile, and synthesize the rel-
evant corpus of evidentiary documentation of the in-
stitution of slavery which existed within the United 
States and the colonies that became the United 
States from 1619 through 1865. The Commission’s 
documentation and examination shall include facts 
related to— 
(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 
and their descendants as chattel property in 
interstate and intrastate commerce; 
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(D) the treatment of African slaves and 
their descendants in the colonies and the 
United States, including the deprivation of their 
freedom, exploitation of their labor, and de-
struction of their culture, language, religion, 
and families; and 
(E) the extensive denial of humanity, sex-
ual abuse, and the chatellization of persons. 
(2) Study and analyze the role which the Fed-
eral and State governments of the United States 
supported the institution of slavery in constitutional 
and statutory provisions, including the extent to 
which such governments prevented, opposed, or re-
stricted efforts of formerly enslaved Africans and 
their descendants to repatriate to their homeland. 
(3) Study and analyze the effects of laws en-
acted by the Federal Government and State govern-
ments with discriminatory intent or discriminatory 
effect on the formerly enslaved Africans and their 
descendants following the overdue recognition of 
such persons as United States citizens beginning in 
1868. 
(4) Study and analyze the other forms of dis-
crimination in the public and private sectors against 
freed African slaves and their descendants who were 
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belatedly accorded their rightful status as United 
States citizens from 1868 to the present, including 
redlining, educational funding discrepancies, and 
predatory financial practices. 
(5) Study and analyze the lingering negative ef-
fects of the institution of slavery and the matters de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 2(b) 
on living African Americans and on society in the 
United States. 
(6) Recommend appropriate ways to educate 
the American public of the Commission’s findings to 
advance racial healing, understanding, and trans-
formation. 
(7) Recommend appropriate remedies in consid-
eration of the Commission’s findings on the matters 
described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and 
(6). In making such recommendations, the Commis-
sion shall address, among other issues, the following 
questions: 
(A) How such recommendations comport 
with international standards of remedy for 
wrongs and injuries caused by the State, that 
include full reparations and special measures, 
as understood by various relevant international 
protocols, laws, and findings. 
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(B) How the Government of the United 
States will offer a formal apology on behalf of 
the people of the United States for the per-
petration of gross human rights violations and 
crimes against humanity on African slaves and 
their descendants. 
(C) How Federal laws and policies that 
continue to disproportionately and negatively 
affect African Americans as a group, and those 
that perpetuate the lingering effects, materially 
and psycho-social, can be eliminated. 
(D) How the injuries resulting from mat-
ters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), 
(5), and (6) can be reversed and provide appro-
priate policies, programs, projects, and rec-
ommendations for the purpose of reversing the 
injuries. 
(E) How, in consideration of the Commis-
sion’s findings, any form of compensation to the 
descendants of enslaved Africans is calculated. 
(F) What form of compensation should be 
awarded, through what instrumentalities, and 
who should be eligible for such compensation. 
(G) How, in consideration of the Commis-
sion’s finding, what forms of satisfaction, in ad-
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dition to apology, should be implemented in an 
effort toward return of dignity and racial heal-
ing, and reconciliation. 
(H) How, in consideration of the Commis-
sion’s findings, any other forms of rehabilita-
tion or restitution to African descendants is 
warranted and what the form and scope of 
those measures should take. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Commission shall 
submit a written report of its findings and recommenda-
tions to the Congress not later than the date which is 18 
months after the date of the first meeting of the full Com-
mission held pursuant to section 4(f). 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 15 members, who shall be appointed as 
follows: 
(A) POLITICALLY APPOINTED MEMBERS.— 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act: 
(i) Three members shall be appointed 
by the President. 
(ii) Three members shall be appointed 
by the Speaker of the House of Represent-
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atives, in consultation with the committee 
of jurisdiction of the House. 
(iii) Three members shall be ap-
pointed by the President pro tempore of 
the Senate, in consultation with the com-
mittee of jurisdiction of the Senate. 
(B) SUBJECT
MATTER
EXPERTS.—Not 
later than 60 days after the appointment of the 
Director under section 6(a), six members, who 
shall be individuals appointed by the Director, 
and approved by a majority of the members ap-
pointed under subparagraph (A). Such individ-
uals shall be from the major civil society and 
reparations organizations that have historically 
championed the cause of reparatory justice. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—All members of the 
Commission shall be persons who are especially 
qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of 
their education, training, activism or experience, 
particularly in the field of African-American studies 
and reparatory justice. 
(3) LIMITATION.—No person who is a member 
of Congress or an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government or any State or local government may 
serve as a member of the Commission. 
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SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission 
may, for purposes of carrying out this Act— 
(1) hold hearings, sit and act at times and 
places, take testimony, receive evidence, and admin-
ister oaths; and 
(2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the at-
tendance and testimony of witnesses and the produc-
tion of books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
papers, and documents. 
(b) SUBPOENAS.— 
(1) SERVICE.—Subpoenas issued under this 
section may be served by any person designated by 
the Commission. 
(2) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of contu-
macy or failure to obey a subpoena issued 
under this section, the United States district 
court for the judicial district in which the sub-
poenaed person resides, is served, or may be 
found, or where the subpoena is returnable, 
may issue an order requiring such person to ap-
pear at any designated place to testify or to 
produce documentary or other evidence. Any 
failure to obey the order of the court may be 
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punished by the court as a contempt of that 
court. 
(B) 
ADDITIONAL
ENFORCEMENT.—Sec-
tions 102 through 104 of the Revised Statutes 
of the United States (2 U.S.C. 192 through 
194) shall apply in the case of any failure of 
any witness to comply with any subpoena or to 
testify when summoned under the authority of 
this section. 
(C) ISSUANCE.—A subpoena may be issued 
under this section only— 
(i) by the agreement of the Chair and 
the Vice Chair; or 
(ii) by the affirmative vote of a major-
ity of the Commission, a majority being 
present. 
(c) CONTRACTING.—To the extent or in amounts pro-
vided in Appropriations acts, and subject to the applicable 
laws and regulations, the Commission may enter into con-
tracts with government entities, private entities, or per-
sons for goods or services, including for conducting re-
search or surveys, the preparation of reports, and other 
activities necessary for the discharge of the duties of the 
Commission. 
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(d) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES AND 
OTHER ENTITIES.—The Commission may secure directly 
from any department, agency, bureau, board, commission, 
office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of 
the United States any information related to any inquiry 
of the Commission conducted under this Act, including in-
formation of a confidential nature (which the Commission 
shall maintain in a secure manner). Each such depart-
ment, agency, bureau, board, commission, office, inde-
pendent establishment, or instrumentality shall furnish 
such information directly to the Commission upon request. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission— 
(1) the Administrator of General Services shall 
provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 
the administrative support services necessary for the 
Commission to carry out its responsibilities under 
this Act; and 
(2) other Federal departments and agencies 
may pro vide to the Commission any administrative 
support services as may be determined by the head 
of such department or agency to be advisable and 
authorized by law. 
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(f) DONATIONS
OF GOODS
AND SERVICES.—The 
Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or dona-
tions of services or property. 
(g) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as departments and agencies of the 
United States. 
(h) POWERS OF SUBCOMMITTEES, MEMBERS, AND 
AGENTS.—Any subcommittee, member, or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
any action which the Commission is authorized to take by 
this section. 
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc-
tor who shall be, not later than 60 days after the appoint-
ment of all members appointed under section 4(a)(1)(A), 
jointly selected by the Chair and Vice Chair, subject to 
approval by a majority vote of such members. 
(b) STAFF.—The Chair and the Vice Chair may joint-
ly appoint additional personnel, as may be necessary, to 
enable the Commission to carry out its functions. 
(c) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The Director and staff of the Commission may 
be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the com-
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petitive service, and may be paid with out regard to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
of such title relating to classification and General Schedule 
pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this para-
graph may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a po-
sition at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
5316 of title 5, United States Code. Any individual ap-
pointed under this section shall be treated as an employee 
for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 89A, 
89B, and 90 of that title. 
(d) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee 
may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement 
from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the 
rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employ-
ment without interruption. 
(e) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Commission is au-
thorized to procure the services of experts and consultants 
in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a per-
son occupying a position at level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(f) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.— 
(1) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the 
Commission may be compensated at a rate not to 
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