Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) is proposing a new restriction that would prevent public buildings and other government facilities from being named after living public officials.

Kennedy announced the proposal Sunday, arguing that government properties should not be used to honor politicians while they remain alive and active in public life. His proposal would establish a rule barring such naming efforts.

The Louisiana Republican has raised concerns about the practice of naming public institutions after current or living political figures. Under his proposal, officials would have to be deceased before receiving the honor of having a government building named after them.

The proposal would apply to efforts involving public buildings rather than privately owned properties. Kennedy's suggested rule would therefore establish a standard for how government facilities are named and whether sitting or living officials can receive that recognition.

Kennedy's proposal also reflects a broader debate over the use of public property to commemorate political figures. Government buildings can carry significant public and historical importance, making decisions about their names a matter of public policy rather than simply personal recognition.

Supporters of restrictions on naming buildings after living officials can argue that such honors should be reserved for people whose full public records and contributions can be evaluated after their careers have ended. A prohibition would also prevent government institutions from becoming associated with politicians who remain active in current political disputes.

Kennedy has not proposed waiting a specific number of years after an official's death before a building could be named in their honor. Instead, his proposal focuses on establishing a straightforward prohibition against honoring living public officials in this way.

If adopted, the rule would create a uniform standard for government naming decisions and prevent lawmakers or other public officials from receiving such recognition while they are still alive.