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Public Law114th CongressCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
S. 2854Became Law

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Dec 16, 2016)

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 7, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that occurred before 1980 and resulted in a death. (Currently, Emmett Till Act investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) meet regularly with civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and DOJ-designated entities to coordinate information sharing and discuss the status of DOJ's Emmett Till Act work; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.

In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate.

DOJ may reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.

DOJ must hold meetings with the Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Community Relations Service, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, DOJ-designated entities, and state and local law enforcement to discuss the status of its Emmett Till Act work.

In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate:

  • the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency;
  • the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges;
  • the date any such charges were filed;
  • whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case;
  • the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and
  • any activity on reopened cases.

The Community Relations Service must provide technical assistance by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to address tensions raised by civil rights era crimes.

What just happenedDec 16, 2016

Became Public Law No: 114-325.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC](R-NC)Sponsor
16 cosponsors10 D6 R
Read on Congress.gov
16cosponsors2committees29actions1amendments1related bills8subjects
  1. Dec 16, 2016President

    Became Public Law No: 114-325.

  2. Dec 16, 2016BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 114-325.

  3. Dec 16, 2016President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 16, 2016BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 14, 2016Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 14, 2016President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 12, 2016Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Dec 10, 2016ResolvingDifferences

    Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2854 by Voice Vote.

  9. Dec 10, 2016NotUsed20500

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2854 by Voice Vote.

  10. Dec 10, 2016Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7135)

  11. Dec 8, 2016Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

  12. Dec 7, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. Dec 7, 2016FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7343)

  14. Dec 7, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7343)

  15. Dec 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2854.

  16. Dec 7, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7343-7346)

  17. Dec 7, 2016FloorH30300

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  18. Jul 27, 2016Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  19. Jul 27, 2016Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

    Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
  20. Jul 18, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  21. Jul 18, 2016FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  22. Jul 15, 2016Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  23. Jul 14, 2016Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  24. Jul 14, 2016Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  25. Jul 14, 2016Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5183-5185)

  26. Jul 14, 2016Discharge

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Judiciary Committee
  27. Jul 14, 2016Committee14500

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Judiciary Committee
  28. Apr 26, 2016IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  29. Apr 26, 2016IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Public LawDec 16, 201649

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 7, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that occurred before 1980 and resulted in a death. (Currently, Emmett Till Act investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) meet regularly with civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and DOJ-designated entities to coordinate information sharing and discuss the status of DOJ's Emmett Till Act work; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.

In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate.

DOJ may reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.

DOJ must hold meetings with the Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Community Relations Service, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, DOJ-designated entities, and state and local law enforcement to discuss the status of its Emmett Till Act work.

In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate:

  • the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency;
  • the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges;
  • the date any such charges were filed;
  • whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case;
  • the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and
  • any activity on reopened cases.

The Community Relations Service must provide technical assistance by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to address tensions raised by civil rights era crimes.

Passed House amendedDec 7, 201636

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that occurred before 1980 and resulted in a death. (Currently, Emmett Till Act investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) meet regularly with civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and DOJ-designated entities to coordinate information sharing and discuss the status of DOJ's Emmett Till Act work; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.

In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate.

DOJ may reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.

DOJ must hold meetings with the Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Community Relations Service, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, DOJ-designated entities, and state and local law enforcement to discuss the status of its Emmett Till Act work.

In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate:

  • the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency;
  • the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges;
  • the date any such charges were filed;
  • whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case;
  • the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and
  • any activity on reopened cases.

The Community Relations Service must provide technical assistance by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to address tensions raised by civil rights era crimes.

Passed Senate amendedJul 14, 201635

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill permanently reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that resulted in a death, regardless of when the violations occurred. (Currently, the Emmett Till Act is scheduled to expire at the end of FY2017 and such investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) coordinate information sharing; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.

In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate.

DOJ shall reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.

DOJ must establish a task force to assist with conducting a thorough investigation of, and make recommendations to DOJ regarding, Emmett Till Act cases.

In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate:

  • the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency;
  • the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges;
  • the date any such charges were filed;
  • whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case;
  • the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and
  • any activity on reopened cases.
Introduced in SenateApr 26, 2016

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

This bill permanently reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that resulted in a death, regardless of when the violations occurred. (Currently, the Emmett Till Act is scheduled to expire at the end of FY2017 and such investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) coordinate information sharing; (2) hold accountable individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders; and (3) comply with Freedom of Information Act requests.

In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate.

DOJ shall reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.

DOJ must establish a task force to conduct a thorough investigation of Emmett Till Act cases.

In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate: (1) the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency; (2) the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges; (3) the date any such charges were filed; (4) whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case; and (5) any activity on reopened cases.

DOJ may award grants to civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities for expenses associated with investigating offenses under the Emmett Till Act.

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016 — Informed