Senators Merkley, Williams, and Booker Reintroduce Bill to Close 13th Amendment Slavery Loophole
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, U.S. Representative Nikema Williams of Georgia, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey have reintroduced the End the Exception Amendment. This bicameral resolution aims to strike the 'Slavery Clause' from the 13th Amendment, which currently permits slavery "as a punishment for crime" in the United States. The lawmakers argue that this loophole has allowed for forced labor, disproportionately affecting Black Americans, since the 13th Amendment's ratification in 1865. They cite historical examples, such as the 'Black Codes' and the use of imprisoned Black individuals for forced labor on plantations, which generated significant state revenue in some Southern states. The resolution seeks to fully abolish slavery in all forms, aligning the Constitution with principles of equality and justice.
