The House recently passed a bill along party lines, aimed at designating the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” fulfilling a directive from President Donald Trump. This legislation, pushed by Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, marks a significant step in codifying Trump’s executive actions during his second term.
Notably, every House Democrat opposed the bill, which is the fifth piece of Trump’s executive agenda to be passed in just over three months. Republican Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska, a more moderate voice in the party, broke ranks to vote against it, labeling the measure as “sophomoric” in a conversation with reporters.
Bacon expressed his discontent, stating, “The US is bigger and better than this,” in comments to Fox News Digital.
Greene’s legislation mandates federal agencies to permanently update maps and documents to reflect the new name. She described this move as a crucial step in promoting Trump’s vision.
“It’s our bay,” Green declared after the bill received committee approval earlier this year. “The legitimate name is the Gulf of America, and that is what the world should refer to it as.”
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the GOP’s focus on this bill, characterizing it as a trivial matter rather than a significant legislative effort. Jeffries criticized the decision, saying, “Instead of focusing on what will make a difference in the lives of Americans, we are here discussing a name change for the Gulf of Mexico.”
Greene also criticized certain GOP members for not supporting her bill, which she claimed was a priority for Trump. On her social media, she indicated that some Republicans were more interested in pursuing what they viewed as “more serious” legislation.
The bill has cleared the House but faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where two related bills are currently stalled due to Democratic filibuster efforts. Among these is legislation that criminalizes transgender participation in certain sports.
Speaker Mike Johnson pointed out the importance of this legislative approach, emphasizing that executive orders can be reversed and that it’s crucial to solidify these policies through formal legislative processes.
Looking ahead, Greene’s bill will now head to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain under the demands of a 60-vote threshold needed to advance through the legislative filibuster.
