No Federal Funding for Confederate Symbols Act

To prohibit the use of Federal funds for Confederate symbols, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Federal Funding for Confederate Symbols Act 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) The Confederate battle flag is one of the most controversial symbols from U.S. history, signifying a representation of racism, slavery, and the oppression of African-Americans. (2) The Confederate flag and the erection of Confederate monuments were used as symbols to resist efforts to dismantle Jim Crow segregation, and have become pillars of Ku Klux Klan rallies. (3) There are at least 1,503 symbols of the Confederacy in public spaces, including 109 public schools named after prominent Confederates, many with large African-American student populations. (4) There are more than 700 Confederate monuments and statues on public property throughout the country, the vast majority in the South. These include 96 monuments in Virginia, 90 in Georgia, and 90 in North Carolina. (5) Ten major U.S. military installations are named in honor of Confederate military leaders. These include Fort Rucker (Gen. Edmund Rucker) in Alabama; Fort Benning (Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning) and Fort Gordon (Maj. Gen. John Brown Gordon) in Georgia; Camp Beauregard (Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard) and Fort Polk (Gen. Leonidas Polk) in Louisiana; Fort Bragg (Gen. Braxton Bragg) in North Carolina; Fort Hood (Gen. John Bell Hood) in Texas; and Fort A.P. Hill (Gen. A.P. Hill), Fort Lee (Gen. Robert E. Lee), and Fort Pickett (Gen. George Pickett) in Virginia. 3. Federal funds restriction (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (c), no Federal funds may be used for the creation, maintenance, or display, as applicable, of any Confederate symbol on Federal public land, including any highway, park, subway, Federal building, military installation, street, or other Federal property. (b) Confederate symbol defined The term Confederate symbol (1) A Confederate battle flag. (2) Any symbol or other signage that honors the Confederacy. (3) Any monument or statue that honors a Confederate leader or soldier or the Confederate States of America. (c) Exceptions Subsection (a) does not apply— (1) if the use of such funds is necessary to allow for removal of the Confederate symbol to address public safety; or (2) in the case of a Confederate symbol created, maintained, or displayed in a museum or educational exhibit. 4. Redesignation of military installations (a) Redesignation Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall redesignate the following military installations with such designation as the Secretary determines appropriate: (1) Fort Rucker, Alabama. (2) Fort Benning, Georgia. (3) Fort Gordon, Georgia. (4) Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. (5) Fort Polk, Louisiana. (6) Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (7) Fort Hood, Texas. (8) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. (9) Fort Lee, Virginia. (10) Fort Pickett, Virginia. (b) References Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to a military installation referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to such installation as redesignated under such subsection.

Summary: No Federal Funding for Confederate Symbols Act This bill prohibits federal funds from being used for the creation, maintenance, or display of any Confederate symbol on federal public land, including any highway, park, subway, federal building, military installation, street, or other federal property. An exception to such prohibition is provided: (1) if the use of such funds is necessary to allow for the removal of the Confederate symbol to address public safety; or (2) in the case of a Confederate symbol created, maintained, or displayed in a museum or educational exhibit. The Department of Defense shall redesignate the following military installations with such designation as it determines appropriate: Fort Rucker, Alabama, Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Gordon, Georgia, Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Pickett, Virginia.