Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., introduced legislation before the House of Representatives Nov. 20 that would identify derogatory mascots in schools and create a grant program to assist in changing offensive images.

The bill, known as the NATIVE Act, followed a recent Supreme Court decision not to consider a legal challenge of the Washington Redskins nickname by Native Americans.

“Congress is concerned about this issue, and we will deal with it legislatively if necessary,” Pallone said.

“We have become desensitized to how Native Americans are stereotyped in this country. The unintended effect of these images is that they denigrate the Native peoples who have made substantial contributions to the fabric of our country.”

Provisions of the legislation include establishing a committee within the Department of Education that would identify offensive images in elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities.

Once the committee identifies the schools, they would be eligible for grants that pay for replacing team uniforms, and altering structures such as floors, walls, and signs depicting offensive images.

Additional grant money may be used for improvements to Native American schools.

“We want our schools to be a place where students learn reading, writing and arithmetic, but also a place where stereotypes are dispelled, not reinforced,” Pallone said.