National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations Act

To form the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations Act 2. National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations (a) Establishment (1) In general There is established in the executive branch an independent Commission to review the designations of military installations and other property of the Department of Defense. (2) Treatment The Commission shall be considered an independent Commission establishment of the Federal Government as defined by section 104 of title 5, United States Code, and a temporary organization under section 3161 of such title. (3) Designation The Commission established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations (4) Membership (A) Composition The Commission shall be composed of 11 members appointed as follows: (i) The Secretary of the Army shall appoint 1 member. (ii) The Secretary of the Air Force shall appoint 1 member. (iii) The Secretary of the Navy shall appoint 1 member. (iv) The Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate shall appoint 1 member. (v) The Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate shall appoint 1 member. (vi) The Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member. (vii) The Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member. (viii) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 1 member. (ix) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 1 member. (x) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member. (xi) The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member. (B) Deadline for appointment Members shall be appointed to the Commission under subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the Commission is established. (C) Effect of lack of appointment by appointment date If one or more appointments under subparagraph (A) are not made by the appointment date specified in subparagraph (B), or if a position described in subparagraph (A) is vacant for more than 90 days, the authority to make such appointment shall transfer to the Chair of the Commission. (5) Chair and Vice Chair The Commission shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. (6) Terms Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (7) Status as Federal employees Notwithstanding the requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, including the required supervision under subsection (a)(3) of such section, the members of the Commission shall be deemed to be Federal employees. (b) Duties (1) In general The Commission shall carry out the review described in paragraph (2). In carrying out such review, the Commission shall consider the designations of covered military installations and criteria for their redesignation that honors our deceased heroes and other deceased distinguished men and women that represent the diversity of our society. (2) Scope of the review In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following: (A) The designations of military installations and other Department of Defense property, including if such designations represent the values enshrined in the Constitution of the United States. (B) The characteristics on which the designation of a covered military installation should be based, including but not limited to— (i) serving as inspiration to the service members and citizens of the United States; (ii) honoring careers or actions that were important to, and well known in, the locality or function to be memorialized; (iii) recognizing the contributions to the service under which the installation or property is operated; (iv) representing an allegiance to the values enshrined in the Constitution of the United States; (v) diversity in race, gender, and ethnicity; and (vi) honoring living persons in exceptional cases and where it is uniquely appropriate. (C) The rules, regulations, and procedures for the designation of military installations and other Department of Defense property. (D) Any other matters the Commission deems relevant. (c) Reports (1) Initial report (A) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress an initial report on the findings of the Commission and such recommendations that the Commission may have for action by the executive branch and Congress related to the covered military installations. (B) Elements The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include— (i) the covered military installations considered for redesignation; (ii) the criteria to be used for selecting a redesignation for each covered military installation, consistent with the characteristics under subsection (b)(2)(B); and (iii) any other matters the Commission considers appropriate. (2) Final report (A) In general Not later than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a comprehensive report on the results of the review required under subsection (b). (B) Elements The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include— (i) a redesignation for each covered military installation; (ii) the criteria used for selecting a redesignation for each covered military installation; (iii) the rationale for the selected redesignation for each covered military installation; (iv) recommendations for improvements to and standardization of Department of Defense regulations and processes related to the naming of military installations and property; and (v) any other matters the Commission considers appropriate. (3) Form of reports Reports submitted under this subsection shall be made publicly available. (d) Redesignation Not later than 30 days after the submission of the recommendations under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary of Defense shall redesignate the covered military installations with such designations as determined by the Commission. (e) References Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to a covered military installation referred to in subsection (d) shall be deemed to be a reference to such installation as redesignated under such subsection. (f) Termination Commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after submitting the final versions of reports and recommendations pursuant to subsection (c). (g) Covered military installation In this section, the term covered military installation (1) Camp Beauregard, Louisiana; (2) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia; (3) Fort Benning, Georgia; (4) Fort Bragg, North Carolina; (5) Fort Gordon, Georgia; (6) Fort Hood, Texas; (7) Fort Lee, Virginia; (8) Fort Pickett, Virginia; (9) Fort Polk, Louisiana; (10) Fort Rucker, Alabama; (11) the USS Chancellorsville; and (12) any other military base or property as the Commission determines appropriate. (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Summary: National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations Act This bill establishes in the executive branch the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations, an independent commission charged with reviewing the designations (i.e., names) of certain military installations and other property of the Department of Defense (DOD). Specifically, the commission must review the designations of the following military installations: (1) Camp Beauregard, Louisiana; (2) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia; (3) Fort Benning, Georgia; (4) Fort Bragg, North Carolina; (5) Fort Gordon, Georgia; (6) Fort Hood, Texas; (7) Fort Lee, Virginia; (8) Fort Pickett, Virginia; (9) Fort Polk, Louisiana; (10) Fort Rucker, Alabama; (11) the U.S.S. Chancellorsville; and (12) any other military base or property as the commission determines appropriate. In conducting its review, the commission must consider whether current designations represent the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and whether a designation features certain other characteristics (e.g., honoring careers or actions that were important to, and well known in, the locality or function to be memorialized). The commission must produce reports with any recommendations for action by the executive branch and Congress related to each military installation. Not later than 30 days after the submission of the recommendations in the final report, DOD must redesignate the military installations with such designations as determined by the commission. The commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after submitting the final versions of its reports and recommendations.