H.R. 2843 — Reconciliation in Place Names Act

This section sets forth nine congressional findings concerning derogatory geographic place names in the United States that include racial and sexual slurs targeting Native Americans, African Americans, and others or honor individuals who held repugnant views, committed atrocities against Native Americans, or supported discriminatory policies. The findings assert that such names perpetuate prejudice and disparage minorities; declare that no geographic feature should bear them; state that place names should be equitable, honor cultural diversity, and advance dignity; identify the Board on Geographic Names as responsible for naming features and note its policies authorizing changes to offensive names; describe the Board's current renaming process as time-consuming, opaque, and inadequate; and conclude that a systematic public review process is needed for reconciliation.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act, including (1) Board, meaning the Board on Geographic Names (43 U.S.C. 364a); (2) Committee, meaning the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names established by section 4(a); (3) Federal land unit, meaning specified lands such as National Forest System land, National Park System units, National Wilderness Preservation System components, National Landscape Conservation System parts, and National Wildlife Refuge System units; (4) Indian Tribe, having the meaning given in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); (5) offensive place name, meaning a domestic geographic place name or Federal land unit name that recognizes individuals with racially repugnant views or who committed atrocities against Native Americans, contains racial or sexual slurs, perpetuates stereotypes, or is otherwise derogatory; (6) Tribal organization, having the meaning given in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); and (7) Secretary, meaning the Secretary of the Interior.

This section establishes the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names not later than 180 days after enactment of the Act. The committee advises the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Secretary of the Interior, and Congress on renaming geographic features and federal land units with offensive place names. The committee consists of 17 members appointed by the Secretary, including (1) 4 members of Indian tribes, (2) 1 representative of a tribal organization, (3) 1 representative of a Native Hawaiian organization, (4) 4 members with backgrounds in civil rights or race relations, (5) 4 experts in anthropology, cultural/ethnic/indigenous studies, geography, or history, and (6) 3 members representing the general public. Members serve without compensation but receive travel expenses; the Secretary provides staff and technical assistance; and the committee operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The committee must (1) develop a process to solicit and review renaming proposals; (2) solicit proposals from Indian tribes, state/local governments, land management agencies, and the public; (3) allow public comment; (4) propose renamings to the Board and Secretary for geographic features; (5) propose renamings to Congress for federal land units; and (6) recommend process improvements to the Board. The committee must complete its duties, to the extent practicable, within 5 years of establishment and terminates 1 year after the Board approves or rejects all committee proposals.

This section directs the Board to accept or reject a proposal from the Committee to rename a geographic feature not later than three years after receipt. The Board must approve such a proposal unless (1) there is a compelling reason and substantial public interest in rejecting it or (2) approving it would violate federal law; if approved, the Board renames the feature. Board policies that prevent consideration of a name change due to pending legislation do not apply to Committee proposals.