WE SUPPORT THE NEW

2025 REPARATIONS BILL H.RES.414

"As a descendant of my enslaved ancestors, I am deeply humbled to reintroduce the Reparations Now Resolution. Black folks are owed more than thoughts and prayers—we are owed restitution and justice to repair the government-sanctioned harm that has plagued our communities for generations," - Rep. Summer Lee.

On May 15, 2025, Representative Summer Lee (D-PA) reintroduced House Resolution 414 (H.Res.414), titled "Reparations Now," in the U.S. House of Representatives. This resolution calls for the formal acknowledgment of the United States' moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the centuries-long enslavement of Africans and the enduring harm it has inflicted on Black Americans. Unlike prior approaches, H.Res.414 takes a direct stance—demanding recognition and redress without delay.

A broad and diverse coalition of advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, faith communities, and human rights advocates backs the resolution. Among the notable supporters are Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, the National Council of Churches, Progressive Democrats of America, the Black Veterans Project, and the Why We Can't Wait National Reparations Coalition. These groups represent an expanding cross-section of American civil society—from racial justice to interfaith to global human rights networks—all united around the urgent call for reparative justice. (A list of more than 80 endorsing organizations is available on Rep. Summer Lee's official website.)

While H.Res.414 demands immediate moral and legal acknowledgment of harm, it complements—rather than replaces—House Resolution 40 (H.R. 40). H.Res.414 is a non-binding resolution that calls for the immediate moral and legal acknowledgment of the U.S. government’s responsibility to provide reparations for slavery and systemic racism. It does not create a commission or outline payment mechanisms, but is a bold statement demanding urgent redress. In contrast, H.R. 40, initially introduced by Rep. John Conyers in 1989 and now led by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, is a binding legislative proposal that would establish a federal commission to study the lasting effects of slavery and develop concrete reparations proposals. While H.Res.414 aims to build political momentum and public pressure, H.R. 40 provides the legal structure needed to explore and implement reparative programs. Together, they reflect a dual strategy: immediate recognition through H.Res.414 and policy development through H.R. 40.

Reparations Now Resolution PDF

H.Res.414 - Recognizing that the United States has a moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the crime of enslavement of Africans and its lasting harm on the lives of millions of Black people in the United States.

H.R.40 - Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

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