H.R. 311 – To redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Mar…

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Updated April 13, 2026 at 11:58 PM UTC

The bill changes the official name of the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. It also updates the titles of the Secretary, Under Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and General Counsel to reflect the new name. The changes apply to the U.S. Code and any other federal references, and they take effect about two months after the law is passed.

Key Provisions

Redesignates the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Changes the title of the Secretary of the Navy to Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, and similarly updates the titles of the Under Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and General Counsel.
Amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to reflect the new department name in definitions, organization sections, chapter headings, and related references.
Amends Title 37 of the U.S. Code and any other federal laws or documents to replace "Department of the Navy" and "Secretary of the Navy" with the new name.
Specifies that all existing references to the Department of the Navy in other laws or records are to be treated as references to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

January 8, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

January 8, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 8, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 311

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 8, 2019

Mr. Jones introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

1.

Redesignation of the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps

(a)

Redesignation of Military Department

The military department designated as the Department of the Navy is redesignated as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(b)

Redesignation of Secretary and Other Statutory Offices

(1)

Secretary

The position of the Secretary of the Navy is redesignated as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(2)

Other statutory offices

The positions of the Under Secretary of the Navy, the four Assistant Secretaries of the Navy, and the General Counsel of the Department of the Navy are redesignated as the Under Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and Marine Corps, and the General Counsel of the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, respectively.

2.

Conforming amendments to title 10, United States Code

(a)

Definition of Military Department

Paragraph (8) of section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(8)

The term military department means the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, and the Department of the Air Force.

.

(b)

Organization of Department

Section 8011 of such title is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps is separately organized under the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps..

(c)

Position of Secretary

Section 8013(a)(1) of such title is amended by striking There is a Secretary of the Navy and inserting There is a Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(d)

Chapter Headings

(1)

The heading of chapter 803 of such title is amended to read as follows:

803

Department of the Navy and Marine Corps

.

(2)

The heading of chapter 807 of such title is amended to read as follows:

807

Composition of the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps

.

(e)

Other Amendments

(1)

Title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking Department of the Navy and Secretary of the Navy each place they appear other than as specified in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) (including in section headings, subsection captions, tables of chapters, and tables of sections) and inserting Department of the Navy and Marine Corps and Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, respectively, in each case with the matter inserted to be in the same typeface and typestyle as the matter stricken.

(2)

(A)

Sections 8013(f), 8014(b)(2), 8016(a), 8017(2), 8032(a), and 8042(a) of such title are amended by striking Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and inserting Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(B)

The heading of section 8016 of such title, and the item relating to such section in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 803 of such title, are each amended by inserting and Marine Corps after of the Navy, with the matter inserted in each case to be in the same typeface and typestyle as the matter amended.

3.

Other provisions of law and other references

(a)

Title 37, United States Code

Title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking Department of the Navy and Secretary of the Navy each place they appear and inserting Department of the Navy and Marine Corps and Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, respectively.

(b)

Other References

Any reference in any law other than in title 10 or title 37, United States Code, or in any regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States, to the Department of the Navy shall be considered to be a reference to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. Any such reference to an office specified in section 2(b) shall be considered to be a reference to that officer as redesignated by that section.

4.

Effective date

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the first day of the first month beginning more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.