Advance H.R. 40 to establish a federal commission to study and develop reparations proposals for African American descendants of enslaved people.

This means reparative justice—like advancing H.R. 40 to develop reparations proposals. And as the lead House sponsor, I commit to advancing this bill alongside my movement siblings and the broader work for repair, truth

Pressley committed, as lead House sponsor, to advancing H.R. 40 and its reparations-proposal process as part of a reparative justice agenda.

VIDEO: Ahead of America’s 250th, Pressley, Advocates Call On Congress to Advance Transformative Reparative Justice Agenda - Ayanna Pressley
secondary · other · model gpt-5.5

Sponsor: Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (Introduced 01/03/2025). Latest Action: House - 01/03/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. This bill has the status Introduced. Steps shown after Introduced are Passed House, Passed Senate, To President, Became Law.

Pressley personally sponsored the 119th Congress H.R. 40, but Congress.gov shows it remained at the introduced/referred-to-committee stage rather than becoming law as of the retrieved record.

never later_term A for effort

Actions - H.R.40 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%

This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The commission must compile documentary evidence of slavery, study government support for slavery, analyze discriminatory laws and policies, and recommend remedies including apology and compensation.

The CRS summary confirms H.R. 40 is the relevant vehicle for the promised federal reparations study commission.

partial later_term A for effort

H.R.40 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

Latest Action: House - 04/14/2021 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17. This bill has the status Introduced.

H.R. 40 advanced further in the 117th Congress by being ordered reported out of committee, but it did not progress to House passage or enactment.

partial later_term A for effort

Actions - H.R.40 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]* 01/04/2021.

Pressley was an original cosponsor of the 117th Congress H.R. 40 that later received a committee vote.

partial later_term A for effort

Cosponsors - H.R.40 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%

03/05/2019 - Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7].

During her first House term, Pressley cosponsored H.R. 40, showing concrete support for advancing the bill.

partial same_term A for effort

Cosponsors - H.R.40 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%

Latest Action: House - 06/19/2019 Subcommittee Hearings Held. This bill has the status Introduced. Summary: This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans.

The 116th Congress H.R. 40 received a subcommittee hearing but remained only introduced and did not establish the commission.

partial same_term A for effort

H.R.40 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

Latest Action: House - 01/09/2023 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. This bill has the status Introduced. Cosponsors: 130.

The 118th Congress version was reintroduced and referred to committee, but it did not advance beyond introduced status before that Congress ended.

never later_term A for effort

H.R.40 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]* 01/09/2023.

Pressley was an original cosponsor of the 118th Congress H.R. 40, another concrete but unsuccessful legislative effort.

partial later_term A for effort

Cosponsors - H.R.40 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%