On February 22, 2023, DID membership approved a resolution calling for support for the passage of H.R. 40 / S. 40 and the case for reparations.
The resolution included the following letter:
February 22, 2023
Hon. Daniel Goldman U.S. Representative |
Sen. Charles Schumer U.S. Senator |
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand U.S. Senator |
Dear Rep. Goldman and Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand,
Enclosed please find a Resolution approved by Downtown Independent Democrats General Membership on February 22, 2023:
In Support of H.R. 40 / S. 40 and the Case for Reparations
The enslavement of Black people for their labor is one of the two core crimes of U.S. society, along with the displacement and genocide of Indigenous people. The U.S. Congress has consistently put forth H.R. 40 and S. 40, which would create the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. While this falls short of the actual disbursement of reparations, it is a necessary first step in the process of making amends.
Rep. Jackson Lee and Sen. Cory Booker have already sponsored H.R. 40 and S. 40 in the 118th Congress, and we need the House and Senate to quickly move this bill through the legislative process. Sen. Gillibrand is a co-sponsor of S. 40.
DID asks our Congress Member Dan Goldman to co-sponsor H.R. 40, and our Senator Schumer to co-sponsor and move forward S. 40 in the 118th Congress.
Sincerely,
Richard Corman
President, Downtown Independent Democrats
Enclosure
In Support of H.R. 40 / S. 40 and the Case for Reparations
cc: Hon. Eric Adams, NYC Mayor |
Hon. Kathy Hochul, NYS Governor |