Honoring Real Patriots Act of 2017

The American Civil War of 1861–1865 was fought over the desire of the seceding States to keep human beings enslaved based upon their race.

The Confederacy was so committed to preserving the institution of slavery that it killed more than 360,000 American soldiers in its failed effort to achieve this goal.

This act of treason was a direct attack on the existence of the United States and merits no honor to the Confederacy as an institution or its leaders as individuals by the United States Armed Forces.

Nonetheless, United States military installations and other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, including General Lee Avenue and Stonewall Jackson Drive at Fort Hamilton, New York, remain named after rebels who took up arms against the United States.

The United States Armed Forces are essential to defending the United States and protecting American values of freedom, equality, and democratic governance.

This role is undermined when military installations, facilities, roads, equipment, and other property are named after enemy combatants who took up arms during the Civil War to challenge the very values for which the United States stands.

Naming military property after armed insurrectionists with American blood on their hands is an affront to members of the Armed Forces, many of whom are people of color, who take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

There are an ample number of meritorious members of the Armed Forces, who loyally served the United States, for whom military property could and should be named.

Statement of Policy— It is the policy of the United States that no military installation or other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense shall be or remain named after any individual who took up arms against the United States during the American Civil War or any individual or entity that supported such efforts.

Redesignation of property— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall change the name of each military installation and other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is named after any individual who took up arms against the United States during the American Civil War or named after any individual or entity that supported such efforts.

Implementation report— Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing a plan to comply with this section by the deadline specified in subsection (b). The report shall include the following: