I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1055 
To acknowledge the fundamental injustice and the subsequent de jure and 
de facto racial and economic discrimination against those African-Ameri-
cans impacted by the ‘‘War on Drugs’’ and the subsequent disparate 
and discriminatory mass incarceration, to determine the role that private 
corporations played in the prison industrial complex, to determine the 
impact of these forces on their families, to make recommendations to 
the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 14, 2017 
Mr. RUSH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To acknowledge the fundamental injustice and the subse-
quent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimi-
nation against those African-Americans impacted by the 
‘‘War on Drugs’’ and the subsequent disparate and dis-
criminatory mass incarceration, to determine the role 
that private corporations played in the prison industrial 
complex, to determine the impact of these forces on 
their families, to make recommendations to the Congress 
on appropriate 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 
Family Reconstruction Proposals for African-Americans 
Unjustly Impacted by the ‘War on Drugs’ Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Com-
mission to Study Family Reconstruction Proposals for Af-
rican-Americans Unjustly Impacted by the ‘‘War on 
Drugs’’ (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Com-
mission’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall perform the fol-
lowing duties: 
(1) Examine the disparate incarceration and 
the institution of forced prison labor which has ex-
isted within the African-American community in the 
United States since the ratification of Amendment 
XIII to the United States Constitution on December 
6, 1865. The Commission’s examination shall in-
clude an examination of— 
(A) the rates of arrest and imprisonment 
of African-Americans compared to the broader 
American public for drug crimes; 
(B) the rates at which African-Americans 
were imprisoned for comparable crimes to non- 
African-Americans; 
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(C) the rates at which African-Americans 
were imprisoned due to mandatory minimums 
and how these minimums differed from com-
parable charges; and 
(D) the financial and sociological impact of 
these conditions on African-American prisoners 
and their families. 
(2) Examine the extent to which the Federal 
and State governments of the United States have 
supported the mass incarceration of African-Ameri-
cans, the extent to which such governments have 
profited, both through cost-savings and direct rev-
enue, and the extent to which said revenue was used 
to reduce recidivism and encourage post-incarcer-
ation reintegration. 
(3) Examine the extent to which private cor-
porations have supported the mass incarceration of 
African-Americans, the extent to which such cor-
porations have profited, both through cost-savings 
and direct revenue, and the extent to which said rev-
enue was used to reduce recidivism and encourage 
post-incarceration reintegration. 
(4) Examine Federal and State laws that have 
discriminated against African-American prisoners 
and their families. 
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(5) Examine other forms of discrimination in 
the public and private sectors against freed African- 
American prisoners and their families. 
(6) Examine the lingering negative effects of 
the mass incarceration of African-Americans. 
(7) Recommend appropriate ways to educate 
the American public of the Commission’s findings. 
(8) 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 to the Afri-
can-American victims of the ‘‘War on Drugs’’ 
and their descendants. 
(B) Whether African-Americans and the 
broader African-American community still suf-
fer 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 
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the victims of the ‘‘War on Drugs’’ and their 
descendants 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). Such report shall also be 
made available to the public via the Commission’s website. 
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—(1) The Commis-
sion shall be composed of 15 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. 
(B) Three members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(C) Three members shall be appointed by the 
President pro tempore of the Senate. 
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(D) Three members shall be appointed by the 
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 
(E) Three members shall be appointed by the 
Minority Leader 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, Soci-
ology, and/or Economics. 
(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.—Eight 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. 
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The term of office of each shall be for the life of the Com-
mission. 
(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–15 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. 4. 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-
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tion of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
papers, and documents, as the Commission considers ap-
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 Federal Government, 
available information which the Commission considers use-
ful in the discharge of its duties. All departments, agen-
cies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government 
shall cooperate with the Commission with respect to such 
information and shall furnish all information requested by 
the Commission to the extent permitted by law. 
SEC. 5. 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. 
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(b) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The staff of the Commission may be appointed 
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–15 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. 
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(e) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may— 
(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. 6. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 
date on which the Commission submits its report to the 
Congress under section 3(c). The Commission’s report 
shall continue to be available via a publicly accessible 
website. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
To carry out the provisions of this Act, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated $10,000,000. 
Æ 
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