On Thursday (May 8), the United States House of Representatives passed a bill renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” also known as the “Gulf of America Act.”
The bill, named the “Gulf of America Act,” was approved by a vote of 211 to 206 in the House of Representatives and will now be sent to the Senate for consideration. In the Senate, the bill will require the support of at least 7 Democratic senators along with all Republican senators to pass.
Republicans in the House of Representatives are optimistic about the prospects of this bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana displayed a large banner outside his office featuring a map labeled with the name “Gulf of America.”
The sponsor of the bill, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, stated during her speech in the House of Representatives that “names are important. Parents spend a lot of time choosing names for their children because they are proud of the arrival of new life and want to welcome it with a beautiful name. When we rename this bay to ‘Gulf of America,’ we are also proud of this water body.”
The bill requires all official American records, including laws, maps, regulations, documents, and papers, to refer to this water body as the “Gulf of America.”
Democrats oppose the bill.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York expressed his disapproval of the bill, calling it “foolish, narrow-minded, and sycophantic legislation.” He urged members to cast firm opposition votes, criticizing the Republican focus on a symbolic measure instead of more pressing issues such as the economy, healthcare, social security, public safety, or national security.
Moderates also voiced dissatisfaction, complaining that legislators could have focused on more urgent matters rather than concentrating on this symbolic gesture.
Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska was the sole Republican to vote against the bill on Thursday. He told Fox News, “I hear criticism from all sides of the conference, from conservatives to pragmatists, who think this seems childish.”
The White House supports the bill. The Office of Management and Budget stated in an administrative policy statement that the government “strongly supports” the measure, acknowledging that renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future.
Like the United States, Mexico also has a long coastline surrounding this water body. Mexico has argued that the name “Gulf of Mexico” is internationally recognized and has been used as a reference for maritime navigation for centuries.
On January 24, the Trump administration’s Interior Department officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and also renamed North America’s tallest peak located in Alaska, Denali, to Mount McKinley.
The Interior Department stated that the renaming reaffirms the government’s “commitment to preserving America’s extraordinary heritage and ensuring that future generations celebrate the legacy and historical assets of American heroes.”
President Trump praised the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, during his inauguration speech, referring to him as a “born merchant” who made the country very wealthy through tariffs and talent.
McKinley was a president of the United States during the period of American expansionism, leading the country to victory over Spain in the Spanish-American War, acquiring territories like Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico, raising tariffs, protecting American industry, maintaining the gold standard, and opposing inflationary policies.