Congress Says: Keep the Names! Resolution Backs Civil Rights Icons for Navy Fleet

This resolution is essentially Congress giving a big thumbs-up to the Navy’s current naming convention for its fleet replenishment oilers. These are the John Lewis-class ships—the massive vessels that refuel and resupply the fleet, including aircraft carriers, while they’re out at sea. The resolution specifically celebrates the decision to name these vital ships after notable civil rights leaders, encouraging the Department of Defense (DoD) to keep those names exactly as they are.

Why the Navy Naming Convention Matters

These oilers are named for people who made huge contributions to equality and justice in the U.S. The resolution explicitly lists some of the honorees: John Lewis, Harvey Milk, Robert F. Kennedy, Sojourner Truth, Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman, among others. For context, these ships are the workhorses of the fleet, ensuring our military can operate globally. By tying their names to civil rights icons, the Navy is making a powerful statement about the values the country is supposed to uphold.

The Real-World Impact of a Symbolic Resolution

While this resolution doesn't change any laws or impose new regulations—it’s a formal statement of opinion—it provides significant political cover and encouragement for the Navy's current policy. Think of it as a public endorsement from the legislative branch. For advocates of civil rights and historical commemoration, this resolution is a win because it formalizes the recognition of these leaders on a fleet of ships that will be in service for decades. It ensures that every time one of these oilers is commissioned or mentioned, the legacy of figures like Lucy Stone or Dolores Huerta is brought into the public sphere.

Keep the Names: A Strong Suggestion to the DoD

The most direct action in the resolution is the "strongly encourages" part, aimed at the Department of Defense. It tells the DoD, in no uncertain terms, that Congress wants them to make sure the names designated for these ships—both those already built and those still on the drawing board—are permanent. This provision is meant to prevent a future administration or Secretary of Defense from changing the names to something else, ensuring that the current effort to honor these civil rights figures remains intact for the life of the vessels. Since resolutions don't carry the force of law, this is purely political pressure, but in Washington, political pressure from Congress can be a powerful deterrent against policy changes.