This bill would create a new Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names. The committee would find and propose changes to domestic geographic names and Federal land unit names that the bill defines as "offensive place names." That definition includes names that contain racial or sexual slurs, perpetuate stereotypes, or honor people who held racially repugnant views, committed atrocities against Native Americans, or supported discriminatory policies. The Secretary of the Interior must set up the 17-member committee within 180 days. The committee would accept proposals from tribes, state and local governments, land agencies, and the public, hold public comment, and send name-change proposals and suggested new names to the Board on Geographic Names and to Congress for Federal land units. The Board must accept or reject committee proposals within 3 years and must approve them unless there is a compelling reason, a substantial public interest in rejecting them, or approving would violate federal law. The committee is to try to complete its work within 5 years and will end one year after the Board has acted on the committee's proposals.
No publicly available information on total cost estimates or budgets. The bill says committee members serve without pay but may receive travel expenses and per diem when away from home. The Secretary must provide staff and technical assistance to the committee, but the bill does not give cost amounts or a budget.
Supporters say many U.S. place names use derogatory terms, honor people who held racist views or committed injustices, or perpetuate stereotypes. They say those names perpetuate prejudice and disparage racial minorities. The bill’s sponsors argue a transparent, systematic process to review and change such names would be more equitable, honor cultural diversity, and offer an opportunity for reconciliation.
No publicly available information.