Reconciliation in Place Names Act

To create a process by which the Board on Geographic Names shall review and revise offensive names of Federal land units, to create an advisory committee to recommend Federal land unit names to be reviewed by the Board, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reconciliation in Place Names Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Board The term Board An Act to provide a central authority for standardizing geographic names for the purpose of eliminating duplication in standardizing such names among the Federal departments, and for other purposes (2) Committee The term Committee (3) Federal land unit The term Federal land unit (4) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe 25 U.S.C. 5304 (5) Tribal organization The term Tribal organization 25 U.S.C. 5304 (6) Offensive place name The term offensive place name (A) recognizes an individual who— (i) held racially repugnant views, committed atrocities against Native Americans, or 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. (7) Secretary The term Secretary 3. 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 held racially repugnant views, committed atrocities against Native Americans, or 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 perpetuate prejudice, disparage racial minorities, and honor those who committed or supported atrocities; (3) no geographic feature in the United States should have a name which disparages racial minorities, perpetuates prejudice or honors those who committed or supported atrocities against racial minorities; (4) American place names should be equitable and just, honor America’s cultural diversity, and advance dignity for all Americans; (5) the Board on Geographic Names is responsible for naming geographic features in the United States and Board policies authorize changing the names of geographic features determined to be offensive, and prohibit the use of terms deemed derogatory or offensive in geographic place names; (6) the current Board renaming process is time-consuming, lacks transparency and public involvement, and fails to address the scope and breadth of inappropriate place names; (7) the extent of inappropriate or offensive American place names requires a systematic, public process in which offensive and inappropriate place names are reviewed and replaced; and (8) such a process offers an opportunity for reconciliation for the Americans who suffer from prejudice and racial violence and for all Americans in whose name these acts were committed. 4. Advisory Committee (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of the 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 regarding renaming geographic features with offensive place names. (c) Membership The Committee shall include 16 members to be appointed by the Secretary of whom, to the extent practicable— (1) 4 shall be members of an Indian Tribe; (2) 1 shall represent a Tribal organization; (3) 4 shall have backgrounds in civil rights or race relations; (4) 4 shall have expertise in anthropology, cultural studies, geography, or history; and (5) 3 shall represent the general public. (d) 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 from— (A) Indian Tribes; (B) appropriate State and local governments; and (C) members of the public; (3) provide opportunity for public comment on name change proposals; (4) make recommendations to the Board to rename geographic features with offensive place names, including proposed new names; and (5) make recommendations to Congress to rename Federal land units with offensive place names, including proposed new names. (e) 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 (f) 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 Commission to carry out the duties of the Committee. (g) Rules The Committee may adopt such rules as may be necessary. (h) Applicable law The Committee shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). (i) Duration (1) Timeline To the extent practicable, the Committee shall fulfill its duties, including the completion of the recommendations required by subsections (d)(4) and (d)(5), within 5 years of the date upon which the Committee is established. (2) Termination The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 1 year from the date on which the Board has approved or rejected each Committee recommendation. 5. Board review (a) In general The Board shall accept or reject a recommendation by the Committee to rename a geographic feature under section 4(d)(4) within three years of the date in which the Board receives the recommendation. (b) Process The Board shall approve a recommendation of the Committee submitted under section 4(d)(4) unless the Board determines that— (1) there is a compelling reason and substantial public interest in rejecting the recommendation; or (2) approving the recommendation would violate Federal law. (c) Renaming If the Board accepts a recommendation 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 recommendations.

Summary: Reconciliation in Place Names Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names to advise the Board on Geographic Names on renaming geographic features with offensive place names. Generally, an offensive place name is a place name or land unit that recognizes an individual who held racially repugnant views, contains a racial or sexist slur, or is derogatory or otherwise offensive. The board shall accept or reject a recommendation by the committee to rename a geographic feature with an offensive place name within three years of the date on which it receives the recommendation. The board shall approve a recommendation of the committee unless it determines that (1) there is a compelling reason and substantial public interest in rejecting the recommendation; or (2) approving the recommendation would violate federal law. The board shall rename a geographic feature if the board accepts a recommendation by the committee to rename it.