(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 geo-
graphic features in the United States; 
(6) the policies of the Board on Geographic 
Names— 
(A) authorize changing the names of geo-
graphic features determined to be offensive; and 
(B) prohibit the Federal use of terms de-
termined to be derogatory or offensive in geo-
graphic place names; 
(7) the renaming process of the Board on Geo-
graphic Names— 
(A) is time consuming; 
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(B) lacks transparency and public involve-
ment; 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 system-
atic, public process in which offensive and inappro-
priate place names are reviewed and replaced; and 
(9) the process described in paragraph (8) of-
fers 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; 
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(B) a unit of the National Park System; 
(C) a component of the National Wilder-
ness 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 ‘‘of-
fensive 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 Na-
tive Americans; or 
(III) supported or effectuated dis-
criminatory 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 
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(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 Edu-
cation 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 es-
tablish an advisory committee, to be known as the ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Committee is to 
advise the Board, the Secretary, and Congress with re-
spect to renaming geographic features and Federal land 
units with offensive place names. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be com-
posed 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 organiza-
tion; 
(3) 1 member shall represent a Native Hawai-
ian organization; 
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(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 in-
digenous studies; 
(C) geography; or 
(D) history; and 
(6) 3 members shall represent the general pub-
lic. 
(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 pro-
posals to rename geographic features and Federal 
land units with offensive place names; 
(2) solicit proposals to rename geographic fea-
tures and Federal land units with offensive place 
names and derogatory terms from— 
(A) Indian Tribes; 
(B) appropriate State and local govern-
ments; 
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(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 Sec-
retary to rename geographic features with offensive 
place names, including proposed new names; 
(5) make proposals to Congress to rename Fed-
eral land units with offensive place names, including 
proposed new names; and 
(6) make recommendations to the Board on im-
provements 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 Com-
mittee 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. 
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(g) STAFF.—The Secretary shall provide the Com-
mittee 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 sub-
ject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly 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 Com-
mittee 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 ter-
minate on the date that is 1 year after the date on 
which the Board has approved or rejected each Com-
mittee proposal submitted to the Board under sub-
section (e)(4). 
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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 Fed-
eral 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. 
Æ 
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