87R13356 BHH-D     By: White H.C.R. No. 91       CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Geographic Names Committee and   the U.S. Board on Geographic Names have issued a report which shows   that there are at least 28 geographic features in Texas with   racially offensive names; and          WHEREAS, In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed H.B. 1756,   relating to the elimination of certain racially offensive names of   geographic features; the act requires the renaming of any   geographic feature with a name containing the word "Negro," yet in   the 30 years since the law was passed, 17 of the 19 place names   detailed in the act remain unchanged; and          WHEREAS, Changes to place names require the approval of the   U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which in 1998 rejected the names   proposed by H.B. 1756; however, the names were submitted for   reconsideration at a recent meeting of the USBGN and will be   considered for validation and acceptance no later than June 2021;   and          WHEREAS, In addition to those currently under   reconsideration, the USBGN has identified 11 other place names in   Texas containing the slur, in contravention of Section 3 of H.B.   1756; there are currently no proposals to change these names, and   the board's protocol requires a formal proposal be submitted in   order to consider any changes; the board encourages Texas to seek   proponents to submit a proposal for each of these names; and          WHEREAS, The perpetuation of racially offensive language is a   stain on the Lone Star State, and it is vital that the names of these   geographic features be changed in order to reflect and honor the   diversity of the population; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby urge the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to approve requests   to change racially offensive place names in accordance with Texas   H.B. 1756.