congress: 119
type: HJRES
number: 216
originChamber: House
originChamberCode: H
introducedDate: 2026-09-15
updateDate: 2026-09-25T15:17:31Z
updateDateIncludingText: 2026-09-25T15:17:31Z
title: 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.
legislationUrl: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/216

Constitutional authority statement (CDATA)

[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia:H.J. Res. 216.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Clause 18 of Section 8 of Article 1 of the Constitution[Page H5832]

Pipeline

Track

federal_presidential

Stage

Introduced

Stage rank

Sponsor

Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] · [D-GA-5] · W000788
Dem-GA-5 current · 3 terms · @RepNikema · 1 district office

Sponsor record (congress_legislators)

Bio (legislators)

bioguide

W000788

status

current

official_full

Nikema Williams

first

Nikema

middle

Natassha

last

Williams

suffix

null

nickname

null

birthday

1978-07-30

gender

Current term (3 total)

type

rep

state

district

class

null

party

Democrat

caucus

null

start

2025-01-03

end

2027-01-03

end_type

null

how

null

url

https://nikemawilliams.house.gov

address

1406 Longworth House Office Building Washington DC 20515-1005

office

1406 Longworth House Office Building

phone

202-225-3801

fax

null

contact_form

null

rss_url

null

Leadership roles (0)

none

Committee memberships (3)

House Committee on Financial Services (house) · house · rank 20 · site
Housing and Insurance (house) · house · rank 7
Oversight and Investigations (house) · house · rank 3

Social media

Twitter: @RepNikema
Facebook: @RepNikemaWilliams
Instagram: @repnikema

District offices (1)

100 Peachtree Street Northwest, Suite 1920, Atlanta, GA, 30303 · 404-659-0116 · fax 404-331-0947 · 33.7568081,-84.388577

Other names (0)

none

Sponsor FEC record (fec_live)

Candidate record (candidates) · cycle 2026

candidate_id

H0GA05301

cycle

2026

name

WILLIAMS, NIKEMA N.

party

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

office

House

state

district

incumbent_challenge

Incumbent

candidate_status

active_through

2026

election_year

null

first_file_date

2020-07-22

last_file_date

2024-11-08

last_f2_date

2024-11-08

address

null

Candidate summary (candidate_summaries) · cycle 2026

cycle

2026

total_receipts

$599,714.80

total_disbursements

$536,864.64

cash_on_hand_end_period

$76,091.81

debts_owed_by_committee

$0.00

coverage_start_date

2025-01-01

coverage_end_date

2026-06-30

Connected committees (0)

none

Cosponsors (54)

Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] · [D-RI-1] · A000380 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-RI-1 current · 2 terms · @RepGabeAmo · 1 district office
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] · [D-CA-44] · B001300 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-44 current · 5 terms · @RepBarragan · 4 district offices
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] · [D-OH-3] · B001281 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-OH-3 current · 7 terms · @RepBeatty · 1 district office
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] · [D-CA-6] · B001287 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-6 current · 7 terms · @RepBera · 1 district office
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] · [D-VA-8] · B001292 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-VA-8 current · 6 terms · @RepDonBeyer · 1 district office
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] · [D-GA-2] · B000490 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-GA-2 current · 17 terms · @SanfordBishop · 3 district offices
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] · [D-LA-2] · C001125 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-LA-2 current · 3 terms · @RepTroyCarter · 6 district offices
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] · [D-TX-35] · C001131 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-TX-35 current · 2 terms · @RepCasar · 2 district offices
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] · [D-CA-28] · C001080 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-28 current · 9 terms · @RepJudyChu · 2 district offices
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] · [D-MO-5] · C001061 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MO-5 current · 11 terms · @RepCleaver · 2 district offices
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · [D-NJ-12] · W000822 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-NJ-12 current · 6 terms · @RepBonnie · 1 district office
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] · [D-NY-9] · C001067 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-NY-9 current · 10 terms · @RepYvetteClarke · 1 district office
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] · [D-PA-4] · D000631 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-PA-4 current · 4 terms · @RepDean · 2 district offices
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] · [D-WA-1] · D000617 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-WA-1 current · 8 terms · @RepDelBene · 1 district office
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] · [D-CO-1] · D000197 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CO-1 current · 15 terms · @RepDianaDeGette · 1 district office
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] · [D-PA-17] · D000530 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-PA-17 current · 2 terms · @RepDeluzio · 3 district offices
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] · [D-CA-10] · D000623 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-10 current · 6 terms · @RepDeSaulnier · 2 district offices
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] · [D-OR-3] · D000635 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-OR-3 current · 1 term · @RepDexterOR · 1 district office
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] · [D-FL-10] · F000476 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-FL-10 current · 2 terms · @RepMaxwellFrost · 1 district office
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] · [D-IL-4] · G000586 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-4 current · 4 terms · @RepChuyGarcia · 2 district offices
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] · [D-NV-4] · H001066 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-NV-4 current · 5 terms · @RepHorsford · 1 district office
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] · [D-CA-2] · H001068 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-2 current · 7 terms · @RepHuffman · 5 district offices
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] · [D-IL-1] · J000309 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-1 current · 2 terms · 1 district office
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] · [D-GA-4] · J000288 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-GA-4 current · 10 terms · @RepHankJohnson · 1 district office
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] · [D-CA-37] · K000400 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-37 current · 2 terms · @RepKamlagerDove · 1 district office
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] · [D-IL-2] · K000385 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-2 current · 7 terms · @RepRobinKelly · 3 district offices
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] · [D-IL-8] · K000391 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-8 current · 5 terms · @CongressmanRaja · 1 district office
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] · [D-NV-3] · L000590 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-NV-3 current · 4 terms · @RepSusieLee · 1 district office
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] · [D-PA-12] · L000602 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-PA-12 current · 2 terms · @RepSummerLee · 5 district offices
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] · [D-MA-8] · L000562 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MA-8 current · 13 terms · @RepStephenLynch · 3 district offices
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · [D-NY-7] · V000081 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-NY-7 current · 17 terms · @NydiaVelazquez · 2 district offices
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] · [D-VA-4] · M001227 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-VA-4 current · 2 terms · @RepMcClellan · 2 district offices
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] · [D-WI-4] · M001160 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-WI-4 current · 11 terms · @RepGwenMoore · 1 district office
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] · [D-MA-6] · M001196 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MA-6 current · 6 terms · @RepMoulton · 1 district office
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · [D-DC-0] · N000147 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-DC current · 18 terms · @EleanorNorton · 1 district office
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] · [D-MN-5] · O000173 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MN-5 current · 4 terms · @Ilhan · 1 district office
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] · [D-CA-19] · P000613 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-19 current · 5 terms · @RepJimmyPanetta · 4 district offices
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] · [D-CA-50] · P000608 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-50 current · 7 terms · @RepScottPeters · 2 district offices
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] · [D-ME-1] · P000597 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-ME-1 current · 9 terms · @ChelliePingree · 2 district offices
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] · [D-MA-7] · P000617 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MA-7 current · 4 terms · @RepPressley · 1 district office
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] · [D-IL-5] · Q000023 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-5 current · 9 terms · @RepMikeQuigley · 1 district office
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] · [D-IL-3] · R000617 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-3 current · 2 terms · @repdeliaramirez · 2 district offices
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] · [D-FL-24] · W000808 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-FL-24 current · 8 terms · @RepWilson · 4 district offices
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] · [D-PA-5] · S001205 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-PA-5 current · 5 terms · @RepMGS · 1 district office
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · [D-IL-9] · S001145 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-9 current · 14 terms · @JanSchakowsky · 1 district office
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] · [D-AL-7] · S001185 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-AL-7 current · 8 terms · @RepTerriSewell · 4 district offices
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] · [D-CA-12] · S001231 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-12 current · 1 term · @RepLSimon · 1 district office
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] · [D-NM-1] · S001218 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-NM-1 current · 3 terms · @Rep_Stansbury · 1 district office
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] · [D-CA-39] · T000472 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-39 current · 7 terms · @RepMarkTakano · 1 district office
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] · [D-MI-12] · T000481 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MI-12 current · 4 terms · @RepRashida · 3 district offices
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] · [D-MA-3] · T000482 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-MA-3 current · 4 terms · @RepLoriTrahan · 1 district office
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] · [D-IL-14] · U000040 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-IL-14 current · 4 terms · @RepUnderwood · 1 district office
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] · [D-CA-36] · L000582 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-CA-36 current · 6 terms · @RepTedLieu · 2 district offices
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] · [D-FL-25] · W000797 · Co-sponsored 2026-09-15 · original
Dem-FL-25 current · 11 terms · @RepDWStweets · 2 district offices

Committees (1)

Judiciary Committee [House Standing]
2026-09-15T14:00:10ZReferred To

Actions — from XML (3)

2026-09-15IntroReferralH11100via House floor actions
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2026-09-15IntroReferralIntro-Hvia Library of Congress
Introduced in House
2026-09-15IntroReferral1000via Library of Congress
Introduced in House

Actions — from bill_actions table (0)

none

Titles

Official Title as IntroducedIH2026-09-18T05:35:20Z
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.
Display Title2026-09-16T08:09:13Z
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.

Text versions (from XML)

Introduced in House2026-09-15T04:00:00Z
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hjres216ih/xml/BILLS-119hjres216ih.xml

Versions — from bill_versions table (0)

none

Policy area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Summaries

none

Related bills

SJRES 214 (119) 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.
Latest: 2026-09-15 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Relationship: Identical bill (via CRS)
SJRES 21 (117) 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.
Latest: 2021-06-17 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Relationship: Cross-Congress related bill (via CRS)
HJRES 53 (117) 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.
Latest: 2022-11-01 — Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Relationship: Cross-Congress related bill (via CRS)
SJRES 33 (118) 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.
Latest: 2023-06-14 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Relationship: Cross-Congress related bill (via CRS)
HJRES 72 (118) 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.
Latest: 2023-06-14 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Relationship: Cross-Congress related bill (via CRS)

Amendments (0)

none

Laws

none

Committee reports

none

Calendar number

null

CBO cost estimates

none

Latest action

Date

2026-09-15

Text

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Time

null

Dublin Core

format

text/xml

language

rights

Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

contributor

Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress

description

This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.

Row fields (debug)

id

18727

congress

119

bill_type

hjres

bill_number

216

bill_slug

hjres-216-119

title

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.

short_title

null

sponsor_bioguide_id

W000788

sponsor_name

Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

sponsor_party

sponsor_state

introduced_date

2026-09-15

latest_action_date

2026-09-15

latest_action_text

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

status

Committee

policy_area

Crime and Law Enforcement

subjects_json

[]

govinfo_billstatus_path

BILLSTATUS-119hjres216

raw_billstatus_xml

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summary_lede

null

topic_primary

justice

topic_secondary_json

[]

action_family

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response_available

response_type

null

response_deadline

null

importance_score

null

consequence_score

null

urgency_score

null

overall_score

null

in_canopy

canopy_expires_at

2026-12-14

pipeline_track

federal_presidential

pipeline_stage

introduced

pipeline_stage_rank

stable_action_id

hjres-216-119

jurisdiction

federal

lock_status

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first_seen_at

2026-09-16T11:30:11.386483+00:00

last_seen_at

2026-10-02T11:30:13.991670+00:00

⎔ Anchored0x0000…0000Epoch 2026-Q4