GOP rep moves to restrict naming Navy ships after Congress members

The Hill reports:

A Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation to keep Congress members' names off Navy ships if they haven't served as president or in the military.

If passed, the proposal would block the naming of two ships — one after civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and one after former Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich).

The proposal, from Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), was filed as an amendment to the defense appropriations bill the House will start debating Tuesday afternoon. It would block funding to name a ship after a member of Congress, living or dead, unless that member has been president or been in the military.

The amendment was first highlighted by The Washington Post on Tuesday afternoon.

The House Rules Committee is set to decide later Tuesday which of the 100-plus amendments that have been filed will make it to the House floor.

In a statement, Palazzo said his amendment is not targeting Lewis. He said he believes ships should only be named after former presidents, war heroes or people who have served in the military.

“We have 76 living recipients of the Medal of Honor,” Palazzo said. “I would suggest that the secretary of the Navy start there. My amendment has nothing — absolutely zero — to do with John Lewis or any other member of Congress. I’ve been honored to serve alongside Congressman Lewis, a civil rights icon, and I believe he deserves to be memorialized in a way that far outlasts the life of a Navy ship.”

A bid to stop some free advertising.