Reconciliation in Place Names Act
Bill: S.2400 | Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth (D-MA)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

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 with regard to renaming geographic features with offensive place names.
The board shall rename a geographic feature with an offensive name in accordance with a recommendation of the committee 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. The board shall accept or reject a recommendation within three years of receiving the recommendation.

To establish a process for the Board on Geographic Names to 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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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''.

SEC. 2. 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--
                            (i) held racially repugnant views;
                            (ii) committed atrocities against Native 
                        Americans; or
                            (iii) 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--
                    (A) perpetuate prejudice;
                    (B) disparage racial minorities; and
                    (C) honor individuals who committed or supported 
                atrocities;
            (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 is responsible for naming 
        geographic features in the United States;
            (6) the policies of the Board on Geographic Names--
                    (A) authorize changing the names of geographic 
                features determined to be offensive; and
                    (B) prohibit the use of terms considered to be 
                derogatory or offensive in geographic place names;
            (7) the renaming process of the Board on Geographic Names--
                    (A) is time consuming;
                    (B) lacks transparency and public involvement; 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 systematic, public process in 
        which offensive and inappropriate place names are reviewed and 
        replaced; and
            (9) the process described in paragraph (8) offers 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;
                    (B) a unit of the National Park System;
                    (C) a component of the National Wilderness 
                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 ``offensive place 
        name'' means a domestic geographic place name or Federal land 
        unit that--
                    (A) recognizes an individual who--
                            (i)(I) held racially repugnant views;
                            (II) committed atrocities against Native 
                        Americans; or
                            (III) 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.
            (6) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education 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 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 
with respect to renaming geographic features with offensive place 
names.
    (c) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed 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 organization;
            (3) 1 member shall represent a Native Hawaiian 
        organization;
            (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 indigenous 
                studies;
                    (C) geography; or
                    (D) history; and
            (6) 3 members shall represent the general public.
    (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 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 an 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.
    (f) 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 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.
    (g) 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 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 subject to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    (j) Duration.--
            (1) Timeline.--To the extent practicable, not later than 5 
        years after the date on which the Committee is established, the 
        Committee shall fulfill the duties of the Committee, including 
        the completion of the recommendations required under paragraphs 
        (4) and (5) of subsection (e).
            (2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the date 
        that is 1 year after the date on which the Board has approved 
        or rejected each Committee recommendation submitted to the 
        Board under subsection (e)(4).

SEC. 5. BOARD REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which the 
Board receives a recommendation under section 4(e)(4), the Board shall 
accept or reject the recommendation.
    (b) Process.--The Board shall approve a recommendation 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 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.
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