House Democrat Summer Lee of Pennsylvania is preparing to introduce a sweeping new resolution Thursday demanding trillions of dollars in reparations for Black Americans. Dubbed the “Reparations Now Resolution,” the plan declares that the United States has a “moral and legal obligation” to compensate descendants of slaves.
Lee unveiled her initiative at an activist-filled event on Capitol Hill called “Why We Can’t Wait: Advancing Reparative Justice in Our Lifetime.” Flanked by progressive colleagues and race-focused nonprofits, she claimed the Trump administration’s rollback of DEI programs proves why reparations must be pursued immediately and forcefully.
“This is a moment in time where societies are shaped,” Lee told the crowd. “We should be the ones who are shaping it.” She added that Trump’s policies were designed to create a post-DEI America “in their image,” and insisted that progressives “better fight like hell” to ensure it’s built in theirs instead.
Lee didn’t outline exactly how much money she wants taxpayers to fork over, but repeatedly framed the figure in the trillions — echoing past proposals ranging from $10 trillion to $14 trillion in direct payments and federal programs. Her resolution will cite slavery, Jim Crow, and “structural racism” as justifications for transferring wealth to Black Americans.
The proposal follows a similar move from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), who in February introduced a bill to establish a federal commission to study the impact of slavery and recommend reparations plans. Pressley declared that America is experiencing “anti-Blackness on steroids” and vowed not to “be silent” in demanding payment.
California Democrats have also floated multibillion-dollar reparations programs. The state’s own commission recommended individual payments exceeding $1 million per Black resident, citing historical disparities in housing, health care, and education. That plan has sparked backlash from voters across the political spectrum — including in deep-blue parts of the state.
The push for national reparations marks a dramatic escalation by the Democratic Party’s far-left wing. Activists and lawmakers now regularly demand race-based redistribution policies on the grounds of “equity.” But polls consistently show that reparations remain deeply unpopular with voters. According to a 2023 Pew survey, only 18% of white Americans and just 30% of Hispanics supported any form of reparations. Even among Black Americans, support fell short of the 70% mark.
The White House has not commented on Lee’s new resolution, but President Trump has consistently denounced reparations as “un-American,” calling them a “radical racial wealth transfer that would destroy the middle class.” His administration has not only reversed federal DEI mandates but also launched a full audit of government programs that discriminate based on race.
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in recently, calling such proposals “an open war on merit and citizenship.”
Lee and Pressley’s latest moves will likely gain traction in blue-state circles and on activist platforms like MSNBC, but they have little chance of passing the Republican-led House — or even surviving scrutiny in a more moderate Senate.
Still, these proposals aren’t about passing legislation. They’re about cementing a new political litmus test for the left: You either support handing out trillions of taxpayer dollars based on skin color, or you’re labeled a racist.
The question for Democrats is whether they’ll keep chasing these extreme policies and alienating swing voters, or whether they’ll finally wake up to the fact that race-based redistribution schemes aren’t just impractical — they’re political suicide.
