A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the Thirteenth Amendment's exception that permits slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishment. It would directly affect all individuals within the U.S. criminal justice system by banning any form of forced labor for crimes, addressing a historical loophole that enabled mass incarceration of Black Americans post-Civil War. Key provisions explicitly state: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as a punishment for a crime," while clarifying it does not interfere with voluntary prison work programs, community service alternatives, or existing employment protections for incarcerated people. The amendment aims to align U.S. law with constitutional principles by eliminating this exception without altering current sentencing options.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 14, 2023
Last action Jun 14, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jun 14, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
upper
Jun 14, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jeff Merkley
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
Co
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
Co
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
Co
Cory A. Booker
DDemocratic
Co
Edward J. Markey
DDemocratic
Co
Elizabeth Warren
DDemocratic
Co
Mazie K. Hirono
DDemocratic
Co
Peter Welch
DDemocratic
Co
Raphael G. Warnock
DDemocratic
Co
Richard Blumenthal
DDemocratic
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