H.R. 55 · 117th Congress

Emmett Till Antilynching Act

Introduced on Jan 4, 2021 by Bobby L. Rush (D-IL-1). 181 cosponsors, 1 of them from another party. Became Public Law 117-107.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-107
Introduced
Jan 4, 2021
Cosponsors
181
1 from the other party
Policy area
Crime and Law Enforcement
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Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To amend section 249 of title 18, United States Code, to specify lynching as a hate crime act.

Subjects

  • Hate crimes
  • Racial and ethnic relations
  • Sex offenses
  • Violent crime

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Mar 29, 2022). Public domain.

Emmett Till Antilynching Act

This bill makes lynching a federal hate crime offense.

Specifically, the bill imposes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both—on an individual who conspires to commit a hate crime offense that results in death or serious bodily injury or that includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Bobby L. RushD-IL-1Sponsor

Democrats · 180

Republicans · 1

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
    Feb 28, 2022· House· Passage· Passed 422–3

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Jan 4, 2021Introduced in House
  2. Jan 4, 2021Introduced in House
  3. Jan 4, 2021 · HouseReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  4. Mar 1, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  5. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseSubcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
  6. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  7. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  8. Feb 25, 2022Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-251.
  9. Feb 25, 2022 · HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-251.
  10. Feb 25, 2022 · HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 181.
  11. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseMr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  12. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1166-1169)
  13. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 55.
  14. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  15. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1172)
  16. Feb 28, 2022Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 3 (Roll no. 47).(text: CR H1166)House · Roll call 47
  17. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 3 (Roll no. 47). (text: CR H1166)House · Roll call 47
  18. Feb 28, 2022 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  19. Mar 1, 2022 · SenateReceived in the Senate, read twice.
  20. Mar 7, 2022Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1012-1013)
  21. Mar 7, 2022 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1012-1013)
  22. Mar 8, 2022 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  23. Mar 28, 2022Presented to President.
  24. Mar 28, 2022 · HousePresented to President.
  25. Mar 29, 2022Signed by President.
  26. Mar 29, 2022Signed by President.
  27. Mar 29, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-107.
  28. Mar 29, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-107.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 5, 2026 · loaded Oct 5, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.