Original Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution
Designates August 20 as an annual day to remember slavery and calls for public observances.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Slavery was a system of forced bondage whose effects continue to shape the lives of descendants. The resolution would designate August 20 each year as Slavery Remembrance Day, condemn slavery and its legacies, and encourage public observances. It would also ask the President to call for ceremonies and activities.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Designates an annual remembrance day
The resolution would designate August 20 each year as Slavery Remembrance Day, to remember the evils of slavery.
- Condemns slavery and its legacies
Congress would condemn slavery and what the resolution calls its “evil progenies.” Its recitals connect slavery’s legacy to Jim Crow, segregation, mass incarceration, and other harms.
- Calls for public observances
The resolution would encourage people to recognize the importance of remembering slavery and authorize and request a presidential proclamation calling for appropriate ceremonies and activities.
The resolution’s recitals describe the violence and family separations caused by slavery, and connect its legacy to later harms including segregation and mass incarceration. It presents remembrance as a way to recognize enslaved people and slavery’s continuing effects.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. Warren with 12 original cosponsorsReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026JUDICIARY NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 10 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Warren’s record: sponsored 88 bills this Congress. 2 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Tammy BaldwinD-WIORIGINAL
- Richard BlumenthalD-CTORIGINAL
- Cory A. BookerD-NJORIGINAL
- Maria CantwellD-WAORIGINAL
- John FettermanD-PAORIGINAL
- Mazie K. HironoD-HIORIGINAL
- Amy KlobucharD-MNORIGINAL
- Ed MarkeyD-MAORIGINAL
- Patty MurrayD-WAORIGINAL
- Alex PadillaD-CAORIGINAL
- Tina SmithD-MNORIGINAL
- Sheldon WhitehouseD-RIORIGINAL
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