The House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass a bill that would formally rename the Gulf Of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The measure, approved in a 211-206 vote, now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Sponsored by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the legislation follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office directing federal agencies to adopt the new name. The bill requires federal agencies to update official maps and documents with the name Gulf of America.
One Republican, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Democrats largely criticized the effort as a misuse of legislative time and taxpayer money. Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania called it "the dumbest bill" she had seen on the floor.
House Democrats, including Rep. Steny Hoyer, argued the House should focus on other matters rather than debating the name change. Hoyer called the vote a "sick joke."
Some Republicans also expressed private frustration, viewing the bill as symbolic and distracting from other parts of the president's agenda. Rep. Bacon stated it seemed "sophomoric."
Despite the opposition, most Republicans supported the bill, with supporters stating the name change would foster national pride and acknowledge American protection of the waterway. US Coast Guard and other government agencies have reportedly already begun using the name Gulf of America, though other countries have not recognized the change.
The White House has engaged in public disagreement with news organizations over the naming convention, including a dispute with The Associated Press. President Trump is also reportedly making plans for the United States to begin referring to the Persian Gulf by a different name ahead of a planned trip to the Middle East.
"The American people deserve pride in their country, and they deserve pride in the waters that we own, that we protect with our military and our Coast Guard," Greene said during floor debate.
