I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4179 

To prohibit the use of Federal funds for Confederate symbols, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 9, 2019 

Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. QUIGLEY, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. 

KHANNA, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. GALLEGO) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To prohibit the use of Federal funds for Confederate 

symbols, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Federal Funding 

5 for Confederate Symbols Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The Confederate battle flag is one of the 

2 most controversial symbols from U.S. history, signi3 fying a representation of racism, slavery, and the op4 pression of African Americans. 

5 (2) The Confederate flag and the erection of 

6 Confederate monuments were used as symbols to re7 sist efforts to dismantle Jim Crow segregation, and 

8 have become pillars of Ku Klux Klan rallies. 

9 (3) There are at least 1,503 symbols of the 

10 Confederacy in public spaces, including 109 public 

11 schools named after prominent Confederates, many 

12 with large African-American student populations. 

13 (4) There are more than 700 Confederate 

14 monuments and statues on public property through15 out the country, the vast majority in the South. 

16 These include 96 monuments in Virginia, 90 in 

17 Georgia, and 90 in North Carolina. 

18 (5) Ten major U.S. military installations are 

19 named in honor of Confederate military leaders. 

20 These include Fort Rucker (Gen. Edmund Rucker) 

21 in Alabama; Fort Benning (Brig. Gen. Henry L. 

22 Benning) and Fort Gordon (Maj. Gen. John Brown 

23 Gordon) in Georgia; Camp Beauregard (Gen. P.G.T. 

24 Beauregard) and Fort Polk (Gen. Leonidas Polk) in 

25 Louisiana; Fort Bragg (Gen. Braxton Bragg) in 


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1 North Carolina; Fort Hood (Gen. John Bell Hood) 

2 in Texas; and Fort A.P. Hill (Gen. A.P. Hill), Fort 

3 Lee (Gen. Robert E. Lee), and Fort Pickett (Gen. 

4 George Pickett) in Virginia. 

5 SEC. 3. FEDERAL FUNDS RESTRICTION. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

7 (c), no Federal funds may be used for the creation, main8 tenance, or display, as applicable, of any Confederate sym9 bol on Federal public land, including any highway, park, 

10 subway, Federal building, military installation, street, or 

11 other Federal property. 

12 (b) CONFEDERATE SYMBOL DEFINED.—The term 

13 ‘‘Confederate symbol’’ includes the following: 

14 (1) A Confederate battle flag. 

15 (2) Any symbol or other signage that honors 

16 the Confederacy. 

17 (3) Any monument or statue that honors a 

18 Confederate leader or soldier or the Confederate 

19 States of America. 

20 (c) EXCEPTIONS.—Subsection (a) does not apply— 

21 (1) if the use of such funds is necessary to 

22 allow for removal of the Confederate symbol to ad23 dress public safety; or 


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1 (2) in the case of a Confederate symbol created, 

2 maintained, or displayed in a museum or educational 

3 exhibit. 

4 SEC. 4. REDESIGNATION OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. 

5 (a) REDESIGNATION.—Not later than 1 year after 

6 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 

7 shall redesignate the following military installations with 

8 such designation as the Secretary determines appropriate: 

9 (1) Fort Rucker, Alabama. 

10 (2) Fort Benning, Georgia. 

11 (3) Fort Gordon, Georgia. 

12 (4) Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. 

13 (5) Fort Polk, Louisiana. 

14 (6) Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

15 (7) Fort Hood, Texas. 

16 (8) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. 

17 (9) Fort Lee, Virginia. 

18 (10) Fort Pickett, Virginia. 

19 (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any law, regula20 tion, map, document, paper, or other record of the United 

21 States to a military installation referred to in subsection 

22 (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to such installation 

23 as redesignated under such subsection. 

Æ 


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