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S 2894119th CongressIntroduced

A bill to establish a process for the Board on Geographic Names to review and revise offensive place names, to create an advisory committee to recommend offensive place names to be reviewed by the Board, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Sep 18, 2025
Civil Rights & Justice
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill establishes a formal process for reviewing and changing offensive geographic place names across the United States. It empowers the Board on Geographic Names to systematically identify and revise place names that are considered derogatory or offensive, particularly those containing slurs or references that are harmful to specific communities. The legislation creates an advisory committee to recommend which names should be reviewed and establishes procedures for public input, ensuring that affected communities have a voice in renaming decisions. This represents a comprehensive effort to address historical injustices embedded in the nation's geographic nomenclature while balancing the need for public participation and local input.

Key Points

  • 1Authorizes the Board on Geographic Names to review and revise offensive geographic place names through an established formal process
  • 2Creates an advisory committee specifically tasked with identifying and recommending offensive place names for Board review
  • 3Establishes procedures for public participation and community input in the renaming process
  • 4Focuses on names containing slurs or derogatory terms, particularly those offensive to racial, ethnic, or other marginalized groups
  • 5Provides a systematic, government-led approach to addressing problematic place names rather than ad-hoc changes

Impact Areas

Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups who have been historically affected by derogatory place namesFederal and state mapping agencies that will need to update official records and mapsLocal governments and communities where renamed geographic features are located, affecting signage, addresses, and local identityTourism and navigation industries requiring updates to maps, GPS systems, and travel materials
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 on Oct 2, 2025