This bill would make lynching a federal crime

This bill recognizes the effect that lynching has had on African Americans - that it "was a pernicious and pervasive tool that was used to interfere with multiple aspects of life?including the exercise of Federally protected rights."

It makes lynching - including conspiracy to commit lynchng - a federal crime.

Senate passed related bill

The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act (S-488) was unanimously passed by the Senate on Feb. 14, 2019.

The House and Senate bills would have the same effect, but are not identical. The differences must be resolved before the bill can be sent to the president to be signed into law.

This bill was never given a vote in the Senate, and died when the session expired in January 2021. The Senate's bill did not pass in the House, so neither became law.