I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8455 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 
Ms. HAALAND (for herself, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. 
ESPAILLAT, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. GALLEGO, 
Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Mr. EVANS, Ms. LEE 
of California, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, and Ms. JAYAPAL) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
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 rec-
ommend Federal land unit names to be reviewed by 
the Board, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reconciliation in Place 
Names Act’’. 
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(6) OFFENSIVE PLACE NAME.—The term ‘‘of-
fensive place name’’ means a domestic geographic 
place name or Federal land unit that— 
(A) recognizes an individual who— 
(i) held racially repugnant views, com-
mitted 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’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the United States contains geographic fea-
tures named— 
(A) with derogatory terms that include ra-
cial and sexual slurs and stereotypes targeting 
Native Americans, African Americans, and oth-
ers; 
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(B) in honor of individuals who held ra-
cially repugnant views, committed atrocities 
against Native Americans, or supported or ef-
fectuated 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 repug-
nant views, committed atrocities against Native 
Americans, or carried out injustices against racial 
minorities perpetuate prejudice, disparage racial mi-
norities, and honor those who committed or sup-
ported atrocities; 
(3) no geographic feature in the United States 
should have a name which disparages racial minori-
ties, perpetuates prejudice or honors those who com-
mitted or supported atrocities against racial minori-
ties; 
(4) American place names should be equitable 
and just, honor America’s cultural diversity, and ad-
vance dignity for all Americans; 
(5) the Board on Geographic Names is respon-
sible for naming geographic features in the United 
States and Board policies authorize changing the 
names of geographic features determined to be of-
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fensive, and prohibit the use of terms deemed derog-
atory or offensive in geographic place names; 
(6) the current Board renaming process is time- 
consuming, lacks transparency and public involve-
ment, 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 rec-
onciliation for the Americans who suffer from preju-
dice and racial violence and for all Americans in 
whose name these acts were committed. 
SEC. 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 ‘‘Advi-
sory 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— 
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(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, cul-
tural 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 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 from— 
(A) Indian Tribes; 
(B) appropriate State and local govern-
ments; and 
(C) members of the public; 
(3) provide opportunity for public comment on 
name change proposals; 
(4) make recommendations to the Board to re-
name geographic features with offensive place 
names, including proposed new names; and 
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(5) make recommendations to Congress to re-
name 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 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. 
(f) 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 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 sub-
ject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.). 
(i) DURATION.— 
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(1) TIMELINE.—To the extent practicable, the 
Committee shall fulfill its duties, including the com-
pletion of the recommendations required by sub-
sections (d)(4) and (d)(5), within 5 years of the date 
upon which the Committee is established. 
(2) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall ter-
minate on the date that is 1 year from the date on 
which the Board has approved or rejected each Com-
mittee recommendation. 
SEC. 5. BOARD REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall accept or reject 
a recommendation by the Committee to rename a geo-
graphic feature under section 4(d)(4) within three years 
of the date in which the Board receives the recommenda-
tion. 
(b) PROCESS.—The Board shall approve a rec-
ommendation 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 recommenda-
tion by the Committee to rename a geographic feature, 
the Board shall rename the geographic feature. 
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(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. 
Æ 
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