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H.R.8455 / 116th Congress

Reconciliation in Place Names Act

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 30, 2020

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 on renaming geographic features with offensive place names. Generally, an offensive place name is a place name or land unit that recognizes an individual who held racially repugnant views, contains a racial or sexist slur, or is derogatory or otherwise offensive.

The board shall accept or reject a recommendation by the committee to rename a geographic feature with an offensive place name within three years of the date on which it receives the recommendation.

The board shall approve a recommendation of the committee unless it 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 rename a geographic feature if the board accepts a recommendation by the committee to rename it.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1] · D–NM

Committees

  • Natural Resources Committee
15 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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