I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 40 
To acknowledge 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 examine the institution 
of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic dis-
crimination 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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2009 
Mr. CONYERS (for himself and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To acknowledge 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 examine the institution of 
slavery, subsequently 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 appro-
priate remedies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to Study 
Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) approximately 4,000,000 Africans and their 
descendants were enslaved in the United States and 
colonies that became the United States from 1619 to 
1865; 
(2) the institution of slavery was constitu-
tionally and statutorily sanctioned by the Govern-
ment of the United States from 1789 through 1865; 
(3) the slavery that flourished in the United 
States constituted an immoral and inhumane depri-
vation of Africans’ life, liberty, African citizenship 
rights, and cultural heritage, and denied them the 
fruits of their own labor; and 
(4) sufficient inquiry has not been made into 
the effects of the institution of slavery on living Afri-
can-Americans and society in the United States. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish a commission to— 
(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 
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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: 
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(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 
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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: 
(A) Whether the Government of the United 
States should offer a formal apology on behalf 
of the people of the United States for the per-
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petration of gross human rights violations on 
African slaves and their descendants. 
(B) Whether African-Americans still suffer 
from the lingering effects of the matters de-
scribed in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4). 
(C) Whether, in consideration of the Com-
mission’s findings, any form of compensation to 
the descendants of African slaves is warranted. 
(D) If the Commission finds that such 
compensation is warranted, what should be the 
amount of compensation, what form of com-
pensation should be awarded, and who should 
be eligible for such compensation. 
(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 one 
year after the date of the first meeting of the Commission 
held pursuant to section 4(c). 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—(1) The Commis-
sion shall be composed of 7 members, who shall be ap-
pointed, within 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, as follows: 
(A) Three members shall be appointed by the 
President. 
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(B) Three members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(C) One member shall be appointed by the 
President pro tempore of the Senate. 
(2) All members of the Commission shall be persons 
who are especially qualified to serve on the Commission 
by virtue of their education, training, or experience, par-
ticularly in the field of African-American studies. 
(b) TERMS.—The term of office for members shall 
be for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Com-
mission shall not affect the powers of the Commission, and 
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(c) FIRST MEETING.—The President shall call the 
first meeting of the Commission within 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, or within 30 days after 
the date on which legislation is enacted making appropria-
tions to carry out this Act, whichever date is later. 
(d) QUORUM.—Four members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
hearings. 
(e) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Commission shall 
elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. 
The term of office of each shall be for the life of the Com-
mission. 
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(f) COMPENSATION.—(1) Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each member of the Commission shall receive 
compensation at the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule 
under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each 
day, including travel time, during which he or she is en-
gaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the 
Commission. 
(2) A member of the Commission who is a full-time 
officer or employee of the United States or a Member of 
Congress shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or 
benefits by reason of his or her service to the Commission. 
(3) All members of the Commission shall be reim-
bursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary ex-
penses incurred by them in the performance of their duties 
to the extent authorized by chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 
may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this 
Act, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and 
at such places in the United States, and request the at-
tendance and testimony of such witnesses and the produc-
tion of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
papers, and documents, as the Commission considers ap-
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propriate. The Commission may request the Attorney Gen-
eral to invoke the aid of an appropriate United States dis-
trict court to require, by subpoena or otherwise, such at-
tendance, testimony, or production. 
(b) POWERS OF SUBCOMMITTEES AND MEMBERS.— 
Any subcommittee or member of the Commission may, if 
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take by this section. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may acquire directly from the head of any department, 
agency, or instrumentality of the executive branch of the 
Government, available information which the Commission 
considers useful in the discharge of its duties. All depart-
ments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the executive 
branch of the Government shall cooperate with the Com-
mission with respect to such information and shall furnish 
all information requested by the Commission to the extent 
permitted by law. 
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) STAFF.—The Commission may, without regard to 
section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, appoint and 
fix the compensation of such personnel as the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The staff of the Commission may be appointed 
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without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classi-
fication and General Schedule pay rates, except that the 
compensation of any employee of the Commission may not 
exceed a rate equal to the annual rate of basic pay payable 
for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 
of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission 
may procure the services of experts and consultants in ac-
cordance with the provisions of section 3109(b) of title 5, 
United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to 
exceed the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable 
under section 5332 of such title. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.—The 
Commission may enter into agreements with the Adminis-
trator of General Services for procurement of financial 
and administrative services necessary for the discharge of 
the duties of the Commission. Payment for such services 
shall be made by reimbursement from funds of the Com-
mission in such amounts as may be agreed upon by the 
Chairman of the Commission and the Administrator. 
(e) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may— 
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(1) procure supplies, services, and property by 
contract in accordance with applicable laws and reg-
ulations and to the extent or in such amounts as are 
provided in appropriations Acts; and 
(2) enter into contracts with departments, 
agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Gov-
ernment, State agencies, and private firms, institu-
tions, and agencies, for the conduct of research or 
surveys, the preparation of reports, and other activi-
ties necessary for the discharge of the duties of the 
Commission, to the extent or in such amounts as are 
provided in appropriations Acts. 
SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 
date on which the Commission submits its report to the 
Congress under section 3(c). 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
To carry out the provisions of this Act, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated $8,000,000. 
Æ 
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