This Act may be cited as the Navy Accountability and Military Eponym Standards Act or the NAMES Act.

(a) In general The Secretary of the Navy shall— (1) establish and publish objective criteria for naming and renaming vessels of the Navy; (2) obtain a written historical assessment from the Naval History and Heritage Command before naming or renaming a vessel; (3) provide a written rationale for the selected name for the vessel; (4) explain any departure from the primary naming recommendation of the Naval History and Heritage Command with respect to the vessel; and (5) when renaming a vessel, explain the historical significance of the existing name and the reasons for removing it. (b) Written determination The Secretary shall provide any written determination required under subsection (a) to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code) and make it publicly available, subject to applicable law.