National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations Act
This bill establishes in the executive branch the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations, an independent commission charged with reviewing the designations (i.e., names) of certain military installations and other property of the Department of Defense (DOD).
Specifically, the commission must review the designations of the following military installations: (1) Camp Beauregard, Louisiana; (2) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia; (3) Fort Benning, Georgia; (4) Fort Bragg, North Carolina; (5) Fort Gordon, Georgia; (6) Fort Hood, Texas; (7) Fort Lee, Virginia; (8) Fort Pickett, Virginia; (9) Fort Polk, Louisiana; (10) Fort Rucker, Alabama; (11) the U.S.S. Chancellorsville; and (12) any other military base or property as the commission determines appropriate.
In conducting its review, the commission must consider whether current designations represent the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and whether a designation features certain other characteristics (e.g., honoring careers or actions that were important to, and well known in, the locality or function to be memorialized).
The commission must produce reports with any recommendations for action by the executive branch and Congress related to each military installation.
Not later than 30 days after the submission of the recommendations in the final report, DOD must redesignate the military installations with such designations as determined by the commission.
The commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after submitting the final versions of its reports and recommendations.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7155 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7155
To form the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation
Designations, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2020
Mr. Brown of Maryland (for himself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To form the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation
Designations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission on Modernizing
Military Installation Designations Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MODERNIZING MILITARY INSTALLATION
DESIGNATIONS.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--There is established in the executive
branch an independent Commission to review the designations of
military installations and other property of the Department of
Defense.
(2) Treatment.--The Commission shall be considered an
independent Commission establishment of the Federal Government
as defined by section 104 of title 5, United States Code, and a
temporary organization under section 3161 of such title.
(3) Designation.--The Commission established under
paragraph (1) shall be known as the ``National Commission on
Modernizing Military Installation Designations''.
(4) Membership.--
(A) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed
of 11 members appointed as follows:
(i) The Secretary of the Army shall appoint
1 member.
(ii) The Secretary of the Air Force shall
appoint 1 member.
(iii) The Secretary of the Navy shall
appoint 1 member.
(iv) The Chairman of the Committee on Armed
Services of the Senate shall appoint 1 member.
(v) The Ranking Member of the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate shall appoint 1
member.
(vi) The Chairman of the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives shall
appoint 1 member.
(vii) The Ranking Member of the Committee
on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives shall appoint 1 member.
(viii) The majority leader of the Senate
shall appoint 1 member.
(ix) The minority leader of the Senate
shall appoint 1 member.
(x) The Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall appoint 1 member.
(xi) The minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall appoint 1 member.
(B) Deadline for appointment.--Members shall be
appointed to the Commission under subparagraph (A) not
later than 90 days after the date on which the
Commission is established.
(C) Effect of lack of appointment by appointment
date.--If one or more appointments under subparagraph
(A) are not made by the appointment date specified in
subparagraph (B), or if a position described in
subparagraph (A) is vacant for more than 90 days, the
authority to make such appointment shall transfer to
the Chair of the Commission.
(5) Chair and vice chair.--The Commission shall elect a
Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
(6) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its
powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment was made.
(7) Status as federal employees.--Notwithstanding the
requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code,
including the required supervision under subsection (a)(3) of
such section, the members of the Commission shall be deemed to
be Federal employees.
(b) Duties.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out the review
described in paragraph (2). In carrying out such review, the
Commission shall consider the designations of covered military
installations and criteria for their redesignation that honors
our deceased heroes and other deceased distinguished men and
women that represent the diversity of our society.
(2) Scope of the review.--In conducting the review under
paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following:
(A) The designations of military installations and
other Department of Defense property, including if such
designations represent the values enshrined in the
Constitution of the United States.
(B) The characteristics on which the designation of
a covered military installation should be based,
including but not limited to--
(i) serving as inspiration to the service
members and citizens of the United States;
(ii) honoring careers or actions that were
important to, and well known in, the locality
or function to be memorialized;
(iii) recognizing the contributions to the
service under which the installation or
property is operated;
(iv) representing an allegiance to the
values enshrined in the Constitution of the
United States;
(v) diversity in race, gender, and
ethnicity; and
(vi) honoring living persons in exceptional
cases and where it is uniquely appropriate.
(C) The rules, regulations, and procedures for the
designation of military installations and other
Department of Defense property.
(D) Any other matters the Commission deems
relevant.
(c) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
submit to the President and Congress an initial report
on the findings of the Commission and such
recommendations that the Commission may have for action
by the executive branch and Congress related to the
covered military installations.
(B) Elements.--The report required under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) the covered military installations
considered for redesignation;
(ii) the criteria to be used for selecting
a redesignation for each covered military
installation, consistent with the
characteristics under subsection (b)(2)(B); and
(iii) any other matters the Commission
considers appropriate.
(2) Final report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 365 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
submit to the President and Congress a comprehensive
report on the results of the review required under
subsection (b).
(B) Elements.--The report required under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) a redesignation for each covered
military installation;
(ii) the criteria used for selecting a
redesignation for each covered military
installation;
(iii) the rationale for the selected
redesignation for each covered military
installation;
(iv) recommendations for improvements to
and standardization of Department of Defense
regulations and processes related to the naming
of military installations and property; and
(v) any other matters the Commission
considers appropriate.
(3) Form of reports.--Reports submitted under this
subsection shall be made publicly available.
(d) Redesignation.--Not later than 30 days after the submission of
the recommendations under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary of Defense
shall redesignate the covered military installations with such
designations as determined by the Commission.
(e) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to a covered
military installation referred to in subsection (d) shall be deemed to
be a reference to such installation as redesignated under such
subsection.
(f) Termination.--Commission shall terminate not later than 30 days
after submitting the final versions of reports and recommendations
pursuant to subsection (c).
(g) Covered Military Installation.--In this section, the term
``covered military installation'' includes--
(1) Camp Beauregard, Louisiana;
(2) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia;
(3) Fort Benning, Georgia;
(4) Fort Bragg, North Carolina;
(5) Fort Gordon, Georgia;
(6) Fort Hood, Texas;
(7) Fort Lee, Virginia;
(8) Fort Pickett, Virginia;
(9) Fort Polk, Louisiana;
(10) Fort Rucker, Alabama;
(11) the USS Chancellorsville; and
(12) any other military base or property as the Commission
determines appropriate.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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