Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3993

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-12: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Last Updated

2025-07-23T14:12:14Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Preserving Great Americans' Legacies Act of 2025" (H.R. 3993) aims to prevent the U.S. Navy from renaming certain ships that honor prominent historical figures who advanced civil rights, equality, and social justice. It seeks to preserve these names as a lasting tribute to their contributions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Name Changes: The Secretary of the Navy is barred from altering the name of any active naval vessel (as of the bill's enactment date) that is named after one of the specified individuals.
• Listed Individuals: The protected names include vessels honoring:
• Cesar Chavez (labor and civil rights leader).
• Medgar Evers (civil rights activist).
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Supreme Court Justice known for gender equality advocacy).
• Dolores Huerta (labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers).
• Thurgood Marshall (first African American Supreme Court Justice and civil rights lawyer).
• Harvey Milk (first openly gay elected official in California and LGBTQ+ rights advocate).
• Lucy Stone (abolitionist and women's rights pioneer).
• Harriet Tubman (abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor).
• Scope: This applies only to vessels already named after these individuals at the time the law takes effect.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill overrides a specific part of federal law (10 U.S.C. § 8662(b)), which currently gives the Secretary of the Navy broad authority to rename naval vessels without congressional approval. This creates a narrow exception, limiting that authority for these particular ships and requiring legislative action for any future changes.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Navy loses flexibility in vessel naming decisions, potentially complicating administrative processes if operational or symbolic reasons arise for renaming. It reinforces congressional oversight over military traditions.
• On Citizens: Preserves public recognition of diverse American heroes, particularly those from marginalized communities, fostering education and inspiration. It may influence how future generations view naval history and inclusivity.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could subtly affect how the U.S. military projects values of equality and justice abroad through ship names during international deployments.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Navy and Department of Defense: Directly constrained in naming policies.
• Families and Supporters of Named Individuals: Benefit from protected legacies, including advocacy groups for civil rights, labor, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ communities.
• Congress: Bipartisan sponsors (from both parties) highlight cross-aisle support; the bill was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services for review.
• General Public: Indirectly affected through preserved historical tributes on public naval assets.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Introduces a targeted restriction on executive branch authority (under the Secretary of the Navy), potentially setting a precedent for Congress to micromanage specific military naming decisions via statute. It does not broadly alter naming laws but creates a "grandfathered" protection for existing vessels.
• Constitutional: Raises questions about the balance of powers between Congress (which funds and oversees the military) and the executive branch (which manages day-to-day operations), though it aligns with Congress's constitutional role in regulating the armed forces.
• Political: Reflects a bipartisan effort to honor progressive figures amid debates over historical symbols in public institutions; it could spark discussions on inclusivity in military nomenclature without addressing broader renaming controversies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

Cosponsors (17)

Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-12: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• 2025-06-12: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (2 pages)