H.R.276 - Gulf of America Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 276, the "Gulf of America Act," proposes renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." The bill mandates that all federal documents and maps be updated to reflect this change within 180 days of enactment, overseen by the Secretary of the Interior through the Chairman of the Board on Geographic Names.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives and received in the Senate, where it was read twice and placed on the calendar. The Act itself is very short, containing only two substantive sections.
This renaming is primarily symbolic, with the potential to influence how the region is perceived and discussed in official contexts.
Expected Effects
The immediate effect of this bill, if enacted, would be the administrative burden of updating all federal documents and maps to reflect the new name. This would involve costs for government agencies to implement the change across their records.
Longer term, the effect would be a shift in the language used in official discourse regarding the Gulf region. It is unclear if this change would be adopted by the general public.
There is also the potential for confusion during the transition period as people adjust to the new name.
Potential Benefits
- Could foster a stronger sense of national identity and ownership over the Gulf region.
- May promote increased awareness of the Gulf's importance to the United States.
- Could potentially lead to increased tourism or investment due to the name change.
- The Act is simple and straightforward to implement.
- May provide a minor boost to industries involved in updating maps and documents.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- The cost of updating all federal documents and maps could be significant, diverting resources from other areas.
- The name change may be perceived as unnecessary or wasteful by some.
- There is a risk of public confusion during the transition period.
- The Act does not address any substantive issues related to the Gulf, such as environmental concerns or economic development.
- The renaming could be seen as a superficial attempt to address deeper problems.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to be constitutionally sound. Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power to make laws regarding federal property and regulations, which could be interpreted to include naming conventions.
The act does not infringe on any individual liberties or rights protected by the Constitution or its amendments. The act is a simple act of legislation.
There is no apparent conflict with the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).