House calls to strip segregationist's name from Senate building
H.Res. 646 — Calling on the Senate to remove the name of Richard B. Russell from the Russell Senate Office Building. · Filed by Al Green (D-TX) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Aug 8, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This House resolution calls on the Senate to remove Richard B. Russell's name from the Russell Senate Office Building because Russell was a prominent segregationist who opposed civil rights, filibustered anti-lynching legislation, drafted the Southern Manifesto supporting segregation, and advocated for forced racial relocation. The resolution argues that naming a federal building after someone who championed white supremacy contradicts American values and existing law rejecting white nationalism.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward House resolution calling for removal of a historical figure's name from a federal building based on his opposition to civil rights. It is a symbolic/commemorative action, not substantive legislation creating new law or appropriating funds.
What the text implies
- Passage would require Senate action to actually rename the building, making this a non-binding call on the other chamber rather than direct legislative action.
- The resolution reaffirms Public Law 115–58 (2017 rejection of white nationalism), potentially strengthening the legal/moral foundation for removing other federal honors tied to segregationists.
- Renaming the building does not erase Russell's historical record but removes daily federal endorsement of his legacy, affecting how future generations encounter federal symbolism.
Who it affects
Removing a federal building's name from a historical figure who actively fought against civil rights and promoted white supremacy aligns federal symbolism with stated national values rejecting racism and white nationalism. Citizens benefit from government buildings not honoring those who opposed equal rights, strengthening civic integrity and democratic accountability.
Named in the bill
Richard B. Russell, Russell Senate Office Building, Old Senate Office Building, Senate, House of Representatives, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Brown v. Board of Education, Southern Manifesto, Public Law 115–58, Lyndon B. Johnson
Where it stands
1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.
- Aug 8, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the full bill text on Jul 6, 2026; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 16,222 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-10-20.
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