Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced Friday he will veto a measure to create a commission to study potential slavery reparations in the state, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reported Moore saying that while it was a difficult decision, the issue already has been studied and now is the time “to focus on the work itself.”

Moore is a Democrat, the state’s first black governor and the only black governor currently serving in the United States. According to the AP, he wrote in his veto letter that he applauded the legislature’s work on the bill.

“But in light of the many important studies that have taken place on this issue over nearly three decades, now is the time to focus on the work itself: Narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color, and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education,” Moore, whose maternal grandparents were Jamaican, wrote.

The governor reportedly also noted in his veto letter that black politicians have risen to the highest levels of government in the state in recent years. For example, US Senator Angela Alsobrooks is the state’s first black US senator. Maryland also has a black attorney general, a black state House speaker and a black treasurer.

“We have moved in partnership with leaders across the state to uplift Black families and address racial disparities in our communities,” Moore wrote. “That is the context in which I’ve made this difficult decision. Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.”