Proposal history / Reparations commission
A commission proposed across 19 Congresses
The proposal has returned under several sponsors and bill numbers. In the 104th Congress it was H.R.891.
- First introduction shown
- 1989
- House introductions shown
- 19
- Congresses shown
- 19
- Latest introduction
- 2025
Follow the proposal
Explore each introduction
Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
Current Congress- Introduced
- Jan 3, 2025
- Lead sponsor
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
- Last action
- Jan 3, 2025 · Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In 2021, the House Judiciary Committee ordered H.R.40 reported, amended, by 25–17. This was a committee vote, not passage by the full House.
How to read this
Separate bills. A connected history.
Each introduction has its own congressional record. A matching bill number does not establish a relationship, and related proposals may have different policy details.
Committee votes, procedural votes, and final-passage votes answer different questions. House passage alone does not make a bill law. Vote links show the individual member positions in the official record.
An ended Congress or a missing roll-call link does not establish that a bill was voted down—or that no vote occurred. Dates and outcomes here reflect the reviewed sources.
The record
The introductions, votes & milestones
2025119th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]Current Congress
Introduced Jan 3, 2025 by Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7].
Last recorded action: Jan 3, 2025 · Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2023118th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 9, 2023 by Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18].
Last recorded action: Jan 9, 2023 · Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2021117th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 4, 2021 by Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18].
Last recorded action: Apr 14, 2021 · Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.
Votes & milestones
- Committee action · Apr 14, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.
2019116th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 3, 2019 by Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18].
Last recorded action: Jun 19, 2019 · Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Votes & milestones
- Hearing · Jun 19, 2019
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
2017115th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 3, 2017 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13].
Last recorded action: Mar 8, 2018 · ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Jackson Lee asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 40, a bill originally introduced by former Representative Conyers, for purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
2015114th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 6, 2015 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13].
Last recorded action: Jan 22, 2015 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
2013113th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 3, 2013 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Jan 25, 2013 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution And Civil Justice.
2011112th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 5, 2011 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Jan 24, 2011 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
2009111th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 6, 2009 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Feb 9, 2009 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
2007110th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 4, 2007 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Feb 2, 2007 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
2005109th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 4, 2005 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Mar 2, 2005 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
2003108th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 7, 2003 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Jun 16, 2004 · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1146)
2001107th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 3, 2001 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Feb 12, 2001 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
1999106th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 6, 1999 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Feb 25, 1999 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
1997105th CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 7, 1997 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Jul 29, 1997 · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1548)
1995104th CongressH.R.891Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Feb 10, 1995 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Mar 15, 1995 · Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
1993103rd CongressH.R.40Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]Congress ended
Introduced Jan 5, 1993 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14].
Last recorded action: Feb 12, 1993 · Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
1991102nd CongressH.R.1684Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-1]Congress ended
Introduced Apr 10, 1991 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-1].
Last recorded action: Apr 23, 1992 · Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
1989101st CongressH.R.3745Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans ActRep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-1]Congress ended
Introduced Nov 20, 1989 by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-1].
Last recorded action: Oct 24, 1990 · Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.