A bold new resolution introduced by Representative Summer Lee calls on the federal government to provide trillions of dollars in reparations to Black Americans as compensation for centuries of slavery, segregation, and systemic discrimination.
The proposal, known as the “Reparations Now Resolution,” asserts that the country has a moral and constitutional responsibility to address long-standing racial injustices that continue to affect millions. It seeks to correct disparities in areas such as housing, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity that have persisted across generations.
Though the resolution does not assign a specific financial amount, previous estimates from similar efforts have placed the total cost of reparations as high as $14 trillion. Supporters argue that such a figure is necessary to bridge the racial wealth gap and provide meaningful restitution for historical wrongs.
Representative Lee’s push follows similar legislative efforts aimed at creating a federal commission to study the lasting effects of slavery and to develop structured reparations programs. The initiative is expected to face heavy opposition in Congress, where debates over race, equity, and fiscal responsibility continue to divide lawmakers.