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Social Welfare Policy 314

Seeketa Schimmel
Professor Diane McMillan
Bill Analysis Worksheet SW 314
April 13, 2015

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Bill Analysis Worksheet
Basic Information and Tracking
What branch of government are you working with?
Federal
What is the title of the bill?
Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act
Are there any key words, phrases, or concepts associated with the bill?
40, Segregation, Slavery, and Reparations
Where does the bill currently reside?
It has been referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution in the House Judiciary Committee
Is the bill scheduled for any upcoming hearings or votes?
It has been presented, but not voted on in full committee or the House, every year since 1989 by
Representative John J. Conyers, Jr. currently serving the Michigan 13th Congressional District
since 2013. (He served the Michigan 1st district from 1965 to 1993 and the Michigan 14th district
from 1993 to 2013. The district encompasses the same area, but has been renamed due to
redistricting.)
Policy
What is the intent of the bill? (What problem does it hope to address, and what are its goals))
The bill hopes to provide African Americans with reparations for the emotional and financial
damage caused by slavery and segregation.

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What are the core provisions of the bill?
1. Acknowledge the injustice of slavery and segregation
2. Establish a commission to study slavery and the effects of racial and economic discrimination
on freed slaves
3. Establish a commission to study the impact of slavery and discrimination on todays African
Americans
4. Make recommendations to the House of Representatives regarding reparations and other
appropriate remedies for the problems noted above
What are the estimated costs associated with this bill?
Specific costs are unknown at this time.
Do you think you can support this bill?
Yes
What are the three strongest reasons you support or oppose this bill?
I support this bill emphatically because of the following three reasons:
1. Reparations are based upon decency, fairness, and ethics.
2. There are historical precedents, e.g. West Germanys reparations to the Jews paid to the
government of Israel and our governments reparations to Japanese citizens who were locked
up in internment camps during WWII.
3. Bringing current unfair treatment of African Americans as a topic of national debate and
concern.

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Politics
Is there any group or any legislators that oppose your position? Who are they?
Many White legislators have ignored this proposal just as they ignored Congressman Conyers
Martin Luther King national holiday proposal for 15 years. Many conservative Republicans do
not see any expense or cost as a national priority.
What are their most sound reasons for opposing your position?
Cost, as noted above.
Does the bill have the support of the Leadership in the legislature?
No, the general Leadership has ignored the bill. It does have widespread support in the
Congressional Black Caucus.
Do your representatives share your position on this issue?
Yes, as noted above.
Have you educated them about your position?
This is not necessary for the reasons noted above, i.e. almost unanimous support of this bill by
African American legislators in the U.S. Congress.
Do they sit on a committee that will deal with the legislation?
Yes, as noted previously Congressman Conyers is the head of the Judiciary Committee.