Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Congressional Authorization for Federal Building Names Act”.
Congressional Authorization for Federal Building Names Act
A BILL
To amend titles 5, 18, and 40, United States Code, to prohibit the renaming of Federal property except through a provision of law enacted by Congress, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Prohibition on renaming of Federal property
Renaming Federal property— Chapter 3 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“307. Renaming of Federal property
“(a) In general—Federal property may not be renamed or redesignated except through a provision of law enacted by Congress that expressly renames or redesignates such property.
“(b) Federal property defined—In this section, the term “Federal property” means any feature (including a geographic or administrative feature), building (including a public building as defined in section 3301 of title 40), or other real property or interest in real property—
“(1) administered by a Federal agency; and
“(2) the name of which is designated or otherwise assigned by Federal statute.”
Malicious mischief—
In general— Chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“1370. Displaying incorrect name on Federal property
“(a) In general—Any covered officer or employee who willfully displays an incorrect name of a unit of Federal property on such property or renames a unit of Federal property without prior statutory authorization shall be subject to the following:
“(1) If the damage or attempted damage to such property exceeds the sum of $1,000, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.
“(2) If the damage or attempted damage to such property does not exceed the sum of $1,000, a fine under this title or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
“(b) Statute of limitations—An action under subsection (a) shall be commenced not later than 10 years after the date on which the violation occurs.
“(c) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) Covered officer or employee—The term “covered officer or employee” means an officer or employee of the Federal Government that is politically appointed, including an officer or employee appointed to or acting in a position that requires Senate confirmation.
“(2) Federal property—The term “Federal property” has the meaning given the term in section 307 of title 5.”
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
Naming or designating buildings— Section 3102 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by striking “regardless of whether it was previously named by statute” and inserting “unless such building was previously named by statute”.
Clerical amendments—
The table of sections for chapter 3 of part I of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
The table of sections for chapter 65 of part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: