April 10, 2025
Mr. Green of Texas (for himself, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Carson, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Norton, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Williams of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To establish a process for the Board on Geographic Names to review and revise offensive place names, to create an advisory committee to recommend offensive place names to be reviewed by the Board, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Reconciliation in Place Names Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
the United States contains geographic features named—
(A)
with derogatory terms that include racial and sexual slurs and stereotypes targeting Native Americans, African Americans, and others;
(B)
in honor of individuals who—
(i)
held racially repugnant views;
(ii)
committed atrocities against Native Americans; or
(iii)
supported or effectuated discriminatory policies; and
(C)
to recognize individuals who carried out injustices against racial minorities;
(2)
place names that include racial or sexual slurs, or honor individuals who held racially repugnant views, committed atrocities against Native Americans, or carried out injustices against racial minorities—
(A)
perpetuate prejudice;
(B)
disparage racial minorities; and
(C)
honor individuals who committed or supported atrocities;
(3)
no geographic feature in the United States should have a name that—
(A)
perpetuates prejudice;
(B)
disparages racial minorities; or
(C)
honors individuals who committed or supported atrocities against racial minorities;
(4)
place names in the United States should—
(A)
be equitable and just;
(B)
honor the cultural diversity of the United States; and
(C)
advance dignity for all people in the United States;
(5)
the Board on Geographic Names, jointly with the Secretary, is responsible for naming geographic features in the United States;
(6)
the policies of the Board on Geographic Names—
(A)
authorize changing the names of geographic features determined to be offensive; and
(B)
prohibit the Federal use of terms determined to be derogatory or offensive in geographic place names;
(7)
the renaming process of the Board on Geographic Names—
(A)
is time consuming;
(B)
lacks transparency and public involvement; and
(C)
fails to address the scope and breadth of inappropriate place names;
(8)
the extent of inappropriate or offensive place names in the United States requires a systematic, public process in which offensive and inappropriate place names are reviewed and replaced; and
(9)
the process described in paragraph (8) offers an opportunity for reconciliation for—
(A)
people of the United States who suffer from prejudice and racial violence; and
(B)
all people of the United States in whose name the acts were committed.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Board
The term Board means the Board on Geographic Names established by section 2 of the Act of July 25, 1947 (43 U.S.C. 364a).
(2) Committee
The term Committee means the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names established by section 4(a).
(3) Federal land unit
The term Federal land unit includes—
(A)
National Forest System land;
(B)
a unit of the National Park System;
(C)
a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;
(D)
any part of the National Landscape Conservation System; and
(E)
a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
(4) Indian Tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(5) Offensive place name
The term offensive place name means a domestic geographic place name or Federal land unit name that—
(A)
recognizes an individual who—
(i)
(I)
held racially repugnant views;
(II)
committed atrocities against Native Americans; or
(III)
supported or effectuated discriminatory policies; or
(ii)
carried out other injustices against racial minorities;
(B)
contains a racial or sexual slur;
(C)
perpetuates racial, ethnic, or gender-based stereotypes; or
(D)
is derogatory or otherwise offensive.
(6) Tribal organization
The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(7) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 4. Advisory committee
(a) Establishment
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names
.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Board, the Secretary, and Congress with respect to renaming geographic features and Federal land units with offensive place names.
(c) Membership
The Committee shall be composed of 17 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of whom, to the extent practicable—
(1)
4 members shall be members of an Indian Tribe;
(2)
1 member shall represent a Tribal organization;
(3)
1 member shall represent a Native Hawaiian organization;
(4)
4 members shall have a background in civil rights or race relations;
(5)
4 members shall have expertise in—
(A)
anthropology;
(B)
cultural studies, ethnic studies, or indigenous studies;
(C)
geography; or
(D)
history; and
(6)
3 members shall represent the general public.
(d) Consultation with Indian Tribes
Before making an appointment under paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of subsection (c), the Secretary shall consult with Indian Tribes regarding the appointment.
(e) Duties
The Committee shall—
(1)
establish a process to solicit and review proposals to rename geographic features and Federal land units with offensive place names;
(2)
solicit proposals to rename geographic features and Federal land units with offensive place names and derogatory terms from—
(A)
Indian Tribes;
(B)
appropriate State and local governments;
(C)
the affected land management agency; and
(D)
members of the public;
(3)
provide an opportunity for public comment on name change proposals;
(4)
make proposals to the Board and the Secretary to rename geographic features with offensive place names, including proposed new names;
(5)
make proposals to Congress to rename Federal land units with offensive place names, including proposed new names; and
(6)
make recommendations to the Board on improvements to the process of reviewing and revising offensive place names.
(f) Compensation
(1) In general
Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation.
(2) Travel expenses
Members of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Committee.
(g) Staff
The Secretary shall provide the Committee with any staff members and technical assistance that the Secretary, after consultation with the Committee, determines to be appropriate to enable the Committee to carry out the duties of the Committee.
(h) Rules
The Committee may adopt such rules as may be necessary.
(i) Applicable law
The Committee shall be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act
),
(j) Duration
(1) Timeline
To the extent practicable, not later than 5 years after the date on which the Committee is established, the Committee shall fulfill the duties of the Committee, including the completion of the proposals required under paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (e).
(2) Termination
The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the Board has approved or rejected each Committee proposal submitted to the Board under subsection (e)(4).
Sec. 5. Board review
(a) In general
Not later than 3 years after the date on which the Board receives a proposal under section 4(e)(4), the Board shall accept or reject the proposal.
(b) Process
The Board shall approve a proposal of the Committee submitted under section 4(e)(4) unless the Board determines that—
(1)
there is a compelling reason and substantial public interest in rejecting the proposal; or
(2)
approving the proposal would violate Federal law.
(c) Renaming
If the Board accepts a proposal by the Committee to rename a geographic feature, the Board shall rename the geographic feature.
(d) Effect
A Board policy that prevents the Board from considering a name change due to pending legislation shall not apply to Board action on Committee proposals.