NAMES Act
Requires the Navy to publish vessel-naming criteria and explain naming and renaming decisions.
In the Senate Armed Services Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Navy vessel names are chosen through decisions made by the Secretary of the Navy. The NAMES Act would require published criteria and historical assessments for naming or renaming vessels, along with written explanations of the choices. It would also make those written determinations available to Congress and the public, subject to applicable law.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Establish naming criteria
The Secretary of the Navy would have to publish objective criteria for naming and renaming Navy vessels.
- Require historical assessments
Before a vessel is named or renamed, the Secretary would have to obtain a written historical assessment from the Naval History and Heritage Command.
- Explain naming decisions
The Secretary would have to provide a written rationale for a vessel’s selected name and explain any departure from the Command’s primary recommendation. For a renaming, the Secretary would also explain the existing name’s historical significance and why it is being removed; required written determinations would go to congressional defense committees and be made public, subject to applicable law.
The bill would make the Navy’s vessel-naming decisions more documented and publicly explainable. For a renaming, that explanation would address both the significance of the existing name and the reason for removing it.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. BookerReferred to Armed Services
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026ARMED SERVICES NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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