Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act

S. 1510 would extend the authorization of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, which was established in 2018 to investigate and resolve unsolved criminal cases from the Civil Rights Era. The bill would allow the board to continue its work for another four years, enabling it to complete investigations and uncover information related to these historical cases.

The legislation would strengthen the board's powers by establishing that all federal, state, and local government records concerning civil rights cold cases should carry a presumption of immediate disclosure to the public. This would help ensure that families of victims gain access to information and achieve a measure of closure regarding these long-unsolved cases. The bill would also provide reimbursement to state and local governments for expenses they incur in complying with the board's records collection requests.

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board is a nonpartisan organization led by private citizens appointed by the President. This reauthorization bill has passed the Senate and is now being considered by the House of Representatives. The legislation has bipartisan support, with sponsors from both parties in both chambers of Congress.