A bill to designate a mountain in the State of Alaska as Denali.
- Bill Number
- S. 573
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to officially designate a specific mountain in Alaska as "Denali," recognizing its indigenous name and updating official U.S. references accordingly. It serves as a symbolic act to honor Native Alaskan heritage.
Key Provisions
- Designation: The mountain located at coordinates 63°04'12" N, 151°00'18" W in Alaska is explicitly named "Denali."
- References: All future and existing references to this mountain in U.S. laws, maps, regulations, documents, or records are to be treated as referring to "Denali."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a formal statutory name change, which would supersede any prior official designations (such as "Mount McKinley" in historical contexts).
- It mandates automatic updates to references in federal materials, ensuring consistency without requiring individual amendments to each document.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service (NPS), which manage mapping and park names, would need to update official records, signs, and publications. This could involve minor administrative costs but no major operational changes.
- Citizens: Alaskan residents, particularly Native communities, may view this as cultural affirmation, potentially boosting tourism or local pride. Broader U.S. citizens would see changes in educational materials or travel guides.
- International Relations: Negligible impact, though it could subtly enhance U.S. recognition of indigenous rights in global discussions on cultural preservation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Native Alaskan Communities: Primary beneficiaries, as "Denali" is the Athabascan name meaning "the high one," reflecting long-standing indigenous significance.
- Federal Agencies: USGS, NPS, and other entities responsible for geographic naming and public lands.
- State of Alaska: Local government and tourism sectors, including Denali National Park visitors.
- General Public: Educators, historians, and map users nationwide.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a clear, enforceable name via statute, reducing ambiguity in federal documents. No conflicts with existing property or land rights, as it pertains only to naming.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal lands and naming under the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3), with no First Amendment or due process issues.
- Political: Symbolizes bipartisan support for indigenous recognition (introduced by Alaska's senators), potentially fostering goodwill in Alaska but sparking minor debate if seen as revisiting past naming controversies. Overall, it has low controversy potential as a non-binding cultural gesture.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- 2025-02-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To designate a mountain in the State of Alaska as Denali. — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (2 pages)