,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hdee ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #cj1 #bjbj,ms4 ,haaland 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,green of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,barragn1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mr4 ,danny ,k4 ,davis of ,illinois1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,mr4 ,gallego1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,california1 ,mrs4 ,napolitano1 and ,ms4 ,jayapal7 introduced the following bill2 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 units1 to create an advisory committee to recommend ,federal land unit names to be reviewed by the ,board1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reconciliation in ,place ,names ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,board ,the term ,board means the ,board on ,geographic ,names established by the ,act entitled ,an ,act to provide a central authority for standardizing geographic names for the purpose of eliminating duplication in standardizing such names among the ,federal departments1 and for other purposes1 approved ,july #be1 #aidg4 7#b7 ,committee ,the term ,committee means the ,advisory ,committee on ,reconciliation in ,place ,names established by section #d7;a74 7#c7 ,federal land unit ,the term ,federal land unit includes ,national ,forests ,system lands1 units of the ,national ,park ,system1 units of the ,national ,wilderness ,preservation ,system1 ,national ,conservation ,lands1 and units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system4 7#d7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#e7 ,tribal organization ,the term ,tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#f7 ,offensive place name ,the term offensive place name means a domestic geographic place name or ,federal land unit that-- 7,a7 recognizes an individual who-- 7i7 held racially repugnant views1 committed atrocities against ,native ,americans1 or supported or effectuated discriminatory policies2 or 7ii7 carried out other injustices against racial minorities2 7,b7 contains a racial or sexual slur2 7,c7 perpetuates racial1 ethnic1 or gender-based stereotypes2 or 7,d7 is derogatory or otherwise offensive4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #c4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states contains geographic features named-- 7,a7 with derogatory terms that include racial and sexual slurs and stereotypes targeting ,native ,americans1 ,african ,americans1 and others2 7,b7 in honor of individuals who held racially repugnant views1 committed atrocities against ,native ,americans1 or supported or effectuated discriminatory policies2 and 7,c7 to recognize individuals who carried out injustices against racial minorities2 7#b7 place names that include racial or sexual slurs1 or honor individuals who held racially repugnant views1 committed atrocities against ,native ,americans1 or carried out injustices against racial minorities perpetuate prejudice1 disparage racial minorities1 and honor those who committed or supported atrocities2 7#c7 no geographic feature in the ,united ,states should have a name which disparages racial minorities1 perpetuates prejudice or honors those who committed or supported atrocities against racial minorities2 7#d7 ,american place names should be equitable and just1 honor ,america's cultural diversity1 and advance dignity for all ,americans2 7#e7 the ,board on ,geographic ,names is responsible for naming geographic features in the ,united ,states and ,board policies authorize changing the names of geographic features determined to be offensive1 and prohibit the use of terms deemed derogatory or offensive in geographic place names2 7#f7 the current ,board renaming process is time-consuming1 lacks transparency and public involvement1 and fails to address the scope and breadth of inappropriate place names2 7#g7 the extent of inappropriate or offensive ,american place names requires a systematic1 public process in which offensive and inappropriate place names are reviewed and replaced2 and 7#h7 such a process offers an opportunity for reconciliation for the ,americans who suffer from prejudice and racial violence and for all ,americans in whose name these acts were committed4 #d4 ,advisory ,committee 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the ,advisory ,committee on ,reconciliation in ,place ,names4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,committee is to advise the ,board regarding renaming geographic features with offensive place names4 7c7 ,membership ,the ,committee shall include #af members to be appointed by the ,secretary of whom1 to the extent practicable-- 7#a7 #d shall be members of an ,indian ,tribe2 7#b7 #a shall represent a ,tribal organization2 7#c7 #d shall have backgrounds in civil rights or race relations2 7#d7 #d shall have expertise in anthropology1 cultural studies1 geography1 or history2 and 7#e7 #c shall represent the general public4 7d7 ,duties ,the ,committee shall-- 7#a7 establish a process to solicit and review proposals to rename geographic features and ,federal land units with offensive place names2 7#b7 solicit proposals to rename geographic features and ,federal land units with offensive place names from-- 7,a7 ,indian ,tribes2 7,b7 appropriate ,state and local governments2 and 7,c7 members of the public2 7#c7 provide opportunity for public comment on name change proposals2 7#d7 make recommendations to the ,board to rename geographic features with offensive place names1 including proposed new names2 and 7#e7 make recommendations to ,congress to rename ,federal land units with offensive place names1 including proposed new names4 7e7 ,compensation 7#a7 ,in general ,members of the ,committee shall serve without compensation4 7#b7 ,travel expenses ,members of the ,committee shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the ,committee4 7f7 ,staff ,the ,secretary shall provide the ,committee with any staff members and technical assistance that the ,secretary1 after consultation with the ,committee1 determines to be appropriate to enable the ,commission to carry out the duties of the ,committee4 7g7 ,rules ,the ,committee may adopt such rules as may be necessary4 7h7 ,applicable law ,the ,committee shall be subject to the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app474 7i7 ,duration 7#a7 ,timeline ,to the extent practicable1 the ,committee shall fulfill its duties1 including the completion of the recommendations required by subsections 7d77#d7 and 7d77#e71 within #e years of the date upon which the ,committee is established4 7#b7 ,termination ,the ,committee shall terminate on the date that is #a year from the date on which the ,board has approved or rejected each ,committee recommendation4 #e4 ,board review 7a7 ,in general ,the ,board shall accept or reject a recommendation by the ,committee to rename a geographic feature under section #d7;d77#d7 within three years of the date in which the ,board receives the recommendation4 7b7 ,process ,the ,board shall approve a recommendation of the ,committee submitted under section #d7;d77#d7 unless the ,board determines that-- 7#a7 there is a compelling reason and substantial public interest in rejecting the recommendation2 or 7#b7 approving the recommendation would violate ,federal law4 7c7 ,renaming ,if the ,board accepts a recommendation by the ,committee to rename a geographic feature1 the ,board shall rename the geographic feature4 7d7 ,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 recommendations4