WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced the Preserve Geographic Names Act, which will dissolve the Board on Geographic Names at the Department of the Interior (DOI), in response to their recent focus of renaming geographic landmarks across the country that they deem "offensive" or "insensitive".
The Board on Geographic Names is part of the U.S. Geographical Survey at the DOI and is charged with coordinating uniform names for geographical landmarks and elements across the country, including unincorporated towns. Upon being named Secretary of the Interior, DOI Secretary Deb Haaland politicized the Board of Geographic Names to promote the Biden administration's woke agenda through her naming commission. The Preserve Geographic Names Act would rein in Secretary Haaland and other woke bureaucrat's abilities to rename and reshape our East Tennessee communities, as they did when they renamed the town of Squawberry in Carter County to 'Partridgeberry'.
"The Biden administration has no business meddling in the names of our towns and our heritage in East Tennessee," said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. "This administration has proven it is incapable of operating this naming commission, or any other government agency, without incorporating their extreme agenda. It's past time we eliminate politicized government offices like the Board on Geographic Names and take action to preserve our history and values."
"A Board that was originally created to uniformly name geographic locations throughout the United States has now been weaponized to rewrite our history," said Congressman Van Drew. "In the name of woke ideology, the Board on Geographic Names has shifted its primary focus towards a subjective effort to rename famous geographic landmarks that they now deem as 'insensitive.' There is absolutely zero reason taxpayers should have to pay for this lunacy - proud to introduce this piece of legislation with my colleagues."
The legislation has been endorsed by local government officials in Tennessee, including Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby.
“The citizens in our communities are proud of their rich history and the heritage of all who have inhabited these lands," said Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby. These are our communities, our heritage, and our beliefs. The federal government has no place telling us to change the names of roads or communities in our counties. Local government and its leaders that are elected by the people should always represent to people and their voices, not some bureaucratic board.”
The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Barry Moore (AL-02) and Jerry Carl (AL-01).
Full text of the bill can be found here.