FLASHBACK: Kamala promised to sign reparations bill for black Americans if elected president

Speaking at the 2019 National Action Network convention, then-2020 presidential candidate Kamala Harris pledged to sign a bill into law that would provide reparations for black Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris is now the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.

Founder and president of the civil rights organization Reverend Al Sharpton asked Harris, "In the area of reparations of for descendants of Africans enslaved: If you're elected president would you sign that bill if it came across your desk?" The bill in question was one proposed by deceased Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to form a commission to study the implementation of reparations in the country.

"When I am elected president I will sign that bill," Harris replied in the April 2019 post-speech Q&A with Sharpton.

 

That bill, HR 40, was introduced to the House by Lee in January 2019. It was halted in committee and was reintroduced in January 2021 by Lee. The bill was once again stopped in committee. Lee took another try at the bill, reintroducing it to the House in January of 2023. The last action taken on the bill was in January of 2023, when it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

A summary of the most recent iteration of the bill states, "This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans." The commission, once formed, "must submit its final report within 18 months of its first meeting."

"The commission must (1) compile documentary evidence of slavery in the United States; (2) study the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery; (3) analyze discriminatory laws and policies against freed African slaves and their descendants; and (4) recommend ways the United States may recognize and remedy the effects of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, including through a formal apology and compensation (i.e., reparations).”

“The commission consists of individuals from civil society and reparations organizations and individuals appointed by the President and congressional leadership; Members of Congress and governmental employees may not serve on the commission. The commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and records, and contract with other entities to conduct its work."

The resurfacing of the clip comes as California has shelved its reparation bills for the time being. The pair of bills are Senate Bill 1331, which would have created a new state fund for reparations, and Senate Bill 1403, which would have created a new state agency to oversee these efforts and determine eligibility. Both are authored by Democrat state Sen. Steven Bradford. Saturday was the last day of the legislative year for California, and SB 1331 and 1403 were placed on inactive file before midnight.