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POSITIVE Justice & Civil Liberties 118th Congress

H.R.1124 Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act

Abolishes the federal death penalty and commutes existing death sentences to life imprisonment (118th Congress)

View on Congress.gov

Legal & Constitutional Grounding

200 death row exonerations document systemic error; GAO found race influences sentencing in 82% of studies.

Death Penalty Information Center (July 2024) — 200 death row exonerations since 1973; 65% are people of color; 69% involved official misconduct
  • U.S. Const. amend. VIII — prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment
  • GAO (1990): race of victim influenced death penalty charging in 82% of studies reviewed

Bill activity

Introduced Feb 21, 2023 by Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) with 21 original cosponsors. 28 cosponsors as of Jul 22, 2024.

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) is not listed among the cosponsors of this bill.
  1. IntroducedFeb 21, 2023
  2. Passed House 
  3. Passed Senate 
  4. To President 
  5. Became Law 

Latest action Feb 21, 2023: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Cosponsors during the cosponsorship window

118th Congress (Jan 2023 to Jan 2025)

May 2023JulAugSepOctNovDecFeb 2024AprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecFeb 21, 2023Jan 3, 2025 (closed)21 originalBarbara Lee (D-CA-12). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Dean Phillips (D-MN-3). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-5). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Grace Meng (D-NY-6). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Greg Casar (D-TX-35). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Gwen Moore (D-WI-4). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. (D-GA-4). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.James P. McGovern (D-MA-2). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL-9). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL-4). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.John P. Sarbanes (D-MD-3). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY-25). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Julia Brownley (D-CA-26). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA-44). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Nikema Williams (D-GA-5). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY-7). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Ro Khanna (D-CA-17). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Mark Pocan (D-WI-2). Cosponsored Mar 7, 2023, 14 days after introduction.Seth Moulton (D-MA-6). Cosponsored Jul 17, 2023, 146 days after introduction.Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3). Cosponsored Aug 4, 2023, 164 days after introduction.Becca Balint (D-VT). Cosponsored Jan 5, 2024, 318 days after introduction.Steve Cohen (D-TN-9). Cosponsored Jan 5, 2024, 318 days after introduction.Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10). Cosponsored Jun 11, 2024, 476 days after introduction.Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5). Cosponsored Jul 22, 2024, 517 days after introduction. Aug 2023DecApr 2024AugNovFeb 21, 2023Jan 3, 2025 (closed)21 originalBarbara Lee (D-CA-12). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Dean Phillips (D-MN-3). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-5). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Grace Meng (D-NY-6). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Greg Casar (D-TX-35). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Gwen Moore (D-WI-4). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. (D-GA-4). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.James P. McGovern (D-MA-2). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL-9). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL-4). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.John P. Sarbanes (D-MD-3). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY-25). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Julia Brownley (D-CA-26). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA-44). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Nikema Williams (D-GA-5). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY-7). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Ro Khanna (D-CA-17). Cosponsored Feb 21, 2023, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Mark Pocan (D-WI-2). Cosponsored Mar 7, 2023, 14 days after introduction.Seth Moulton (D-MA-6). Cosponsored Jul 17, 2023, 146 days after introduction.Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3). Cosponsored Aug 4, 2023, 164 days after introduction.Becca Balint (D-VT). Cosponsored Jan 5, 2024, 318 days after introduction.Steve Cohen (D-TN-9). Cosponsored Jan 5, 2024, 318 days after introduction.Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10). Cosponsored Jun 11, 2024, 476 days after introduction.Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5). Cosponsored Jul 22, 2024, 517 days after introduction.
Democratic 28

Each dot is one cosponsor. Dots stack by sign-on day, or by week when the window is long. The block at the left holds the original cosponsors.

Cosponsorship closed Jan 3, 2025 (118th Congress): the Congress ended with the bill still in committee.

Activity log

Source: Congress.gov actions
  1. Introduced in House
  2. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the...
  3. 21 original cosponsors on the day of introduction
  4. Mark Pocan cosponsored (D-WI)
  5. Seth Moulton cosponsored (D-MA)
  6. Earl Blumenauer cosponsored (D-OR)
  7. 2 members cosponsored
  8. Marilyn Strickland cosponsored (D-WA)
  9. Jahana Hayes cosponsored (D-CT)

Votes on this bill

No recorded votes yet on this measure.

Cosponsors

28 cosponsored

Sponsor Introduced by Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) on Feb 21, 2023

MemberParty/StateDateDays after introductionOriginalGrade
Barbara LeeD-CAFeb 21, 20230Original—
Dean PhillipsD-MNFeb 21, 20230Original—
Eleanor Holmes NortonD-DCFeb 21, 20230Original—
Emanuel CleaverD-MOFeb 21, 20230OriginalA-
Grace MengD-NYFeb 21, 20230OriginalB
Greg CasarD-TXFeb 21, 20230OriginalB+
Gwen MooreD-WIFeb 21, 20230OriginalB
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr.D-GAFeb 21, 20230OriginalA+
James P. McGovernD-MAFeb 21, 20230OriginalB+
Janice D. SchakowskyD-ILFeb 21, 20230OriginalB+
Jesus G. "Chuy" GarciaD-ILFeb 21, 20230OriginalA-
John P. SarbanesD-MDFeb 21, 20230Original—
Joseph D. MorelleD-NYFeb 21, 20230OriginalC+
Julia BrownleyD-CAFeb 21, 20230OriginalA-
Kevin MullinD-CAFeb 21, 20230OriginalB
Mark DeSaulnierD-CAFeb 21, 20230OriginalB+
Nanette Diaz BarraganD-CAFeb 21, 20230OriginalB+
Nikema WilliamsD-GAFeb 21, 20230OriginalA-
Nydia M. VelazquezD-NYFeb 21, 20230OriginalA-
Rashida TlaibD-MIFeb 21, 20230OriginalA
Ro KhannaD-CAFeb 21, 20230OriginalA-
Mark PocanD-WIMar 7, 202314A-
Seth MoultonD-MAJul 17, 2023146B
Earl BlumenauerD-ORAug 4, 2023164—
Becca BalintD-VTJan 5, 2024318A-
Steve CohenD-TNJan 5, 2024318C+
Marilyn StricklandD-WAJun 11, 2024476C
Jahana HayesD-CTJul 22, 2024517B+

Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act. The federal death penalty has documented racial disparities, error rates, and high costs relative to alternatives (DOJ data).