CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Earlier this month, California Congresswoman Jackie Speier added an amendment to the National Defense Bill, one that would honor the late North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones. The amendment would change the name of Lejeune High School to Walter Jones Lejeune High School.

• The amendment has received backlash from alumni and staff who say the school is a second home to many military families.
• They have been trying to gather online signatures for a petition to stop the name change from happening.
• The National Defense Bill will go to conference and then be up for a vote in the fall.

The two worked together for many years, and she released this statement about her decision:  

“Walter Jones exemplified the best of Congress,” said Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee. “He was always willing to ask tough questions, take unpopular positions, and push for reforms in the name of oversight and the public good. On top of that, Walter was a true gentleman and great friend. It was my honor to include – in consultation with his staff, who still work for North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District – a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act to rename Lejeune High School for Walter Jones as a tribute to his work on behalf of his District, North Carolina, the country, and the United States Marine Corps.”

However, the amendment has received backlash from alumni and staff who say the school is a second home to many military families who don't always have the same stability other students have, and a name change would take that away from them.

They have been trying to gather online signatures for a petition to stop the name change from happening. They need to get 100,000 signatures before August 16, and have a long way to go.

The Principal of the school, Eric Steimel, who also graduated as a student in 1980l says he has signed it, and many other teachers at the school feel the same way.

“Renaming the school after Walter B. Jones is probably not the best way to go. We have 75 years of history, nearly 6,000 alumni, who have been graduates of Lejeune high school and this is a bond that we share.”

Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Speier, Josh Conolly, has confirmed her efforts to move forward with the change as of Thursday, saying despite the opposition coming forward, the amendment has also received a lot of support.

Connolly says the amendment passed the Armed Services Military Personnel Sun Committee unanimously. The National Defense Bill will go to conference and then be up for a vote in the fall.