On Feb. 2, Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) filed Senate Bill 608, which aims to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in sections of Florida’s county boundaries.
“A short time from now we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” President Trump said during his inauguration last month.
The move to rename this geographical location has been moving rapidly throughout the country. Many politicians who support Trump’s idea, such as Sen. DiCeglie, have pushed forward this motion to rename the location.
SB 608 has stirred conversations about identity, history and the undertones of renaming geographical features. People who agree with the bill argue that the name change would reflect American sovereignty and pride, especially considering the significant coastline that the United States shares with the gulf. However, those who oppose the bill point out that such a change could be seen as “culturally insensitive and dismissive of the historical significance and shared governance of the body of water by multiple nations including Mexico,” according to Cultural Sensitivity and Geographic Names: The Debate Over Renaming the Gulf of Mexico by H. Smith.
To this date, the bill has undergone preliminary discussions in committee hearings. While it has gained some traction among political groups, it faces considerable opposition. Experts suggest that the bill’s success is far from guaranteed, given the international ramifications and potential diplomatic tensions it could provoke. Additionally, there have been questions regarding the viability of enforcing a name change on maps and in official use, not to mention the costs associated with altering signage, literature and educational materials that include “Gulf of Mexico.”
As of now, Google Maps, which is owned by one of Trump’s supporters and billionaire, Mark Zuckerburg, show the renamed location as the “Gulf of America” instead of the “Gulf of Mexico.”
As a result, many who agree with the name change and others who oppose see a progression in renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it will require approval from both chambers of the Florida Legislature before Gov. DeSantis can sign it into law.
“Even if it were to pass at the state level, the change would not be recognized federally or internationally without further actions from the U.S. Congress and agreement from international bodies such as the United Nations, according to International Law and the Renaming of Bodies of Water: A Case Study. Global Legal Perspectives” by Lenny Garcia.
While the proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf America has captured public interest, its path to becoming law is fraught with challenges. This legislative effort has been met with a mix of support and criticism from various stakeholders. As it stands, the bill’s success in the legislative process remains uncertain. Whether the bill will be filed successfully is a question that only time will answer. However, if SB 608 is successful, it will be effective July 1.