Politics
House Votes to Rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Republican-led House of Representatives voted Thursday to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, in a move to codify President Donald Trump‘s recent executive order.
The bill passed with a slim majority of 211-206, despite criticism from some Republicans and opposition from Democrats. One Republican, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, joined Democrats in voting against the measure.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, would mandate federal agencies to update all maps and documents to reflect the new name. Greene, a staunch ally of Trump, argued the change recognizes the contributions of American taxpayers and military personnel to the Gulf region.
Bacon voiced his disapproval earlier in the week, calling the initiative “juvenile.” He stated, “We’re the United States of America. We’re not Kaiser Wilhelm’s Germany or Napoleon’s France. We’re better than this.” His comments echoed a broader sentiment from within the party, as tensions grow regarding the direction of GOP priorities.
During a heated meeting before the vote, Bacon and other Republican representatives expressed concerns about supporting the bill, which House Majority Whip Tom Emmer urged them to reconsider as it may not be a critical issue for voters.
House Democrats denounced the bill as a waste of time and resources, with Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania labeling it “the dumbest bill” she has witnessed during her time in Congress. “This is not what we should be focusing on,” she said on the House floor.
Trump signed an executive order in early January directing the change. Under the new law, agencies would have 180 days to implement the rename of the Gulf. Despite the House’s passage of the bill, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain, where Republicans lack enough votes to bypass potential filibuster.
In a related development, Trump is also considering renaming the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Arabia during his upcoming trip to the Middle East, which adds another layer to the ongoing debate about geographic names.
