Anahuac Wildlife Refuge to be Renamed Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Under New Bill

A new piece of legislation, the "Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act," is set to officially rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. This bill formalizes a previous directive to honor the memory of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.

A Lasting Memorial on the Texas Coast

The core of this bill, as outlined in Section 3, is the renaming of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the "Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge." The legislation's findings (Section 2) note that Ms. Nungaray, who tragically lost her life in June 2024, had a love for animals. This makes the refuge, located near Houston, a fitting tribute. The bill acknowledges that President Donald J. Trump had previously signed Executive Order 14229 on March 4, 2025, initiating this renaming.

Making the Change Official

Beyond the name change itself, the bill ensures consistency across all federal government platforms. Section 3 also mandates that "any reference in any law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge shall be deemed to be a reference to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge." This means that from official maps you might use for a visit, to government documents and regulations, the new name will be the standard. For anyone interacting with or learning about this protected natural area, the official designation will reflect this memorial.