A.G. Gancarski
The next stop for bills promoting the “Gulf of America” name is Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
DeSantis was the first state official to use the new name in an executive order declaring a state of emergency over a Winter storm last month. That order said the inclement weather was headed to Florida across the “Gulf of America.”
On Friday, he received the bills that would change 92 statutory references in Florida law to refer to the body of water along Florida’s west coast as the new name (HB 575) and put “Gulf of America” in K-12 instructional materials (HB 549).
The Senate substituted the House bills that had passed earlier this month for its own product.
Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie, who sponsored the Senate version of the reviser bill, said the “Gulf of America is patriotic” and that the “long overdue” bill “is about patriotism.”
Not everyone was sold.
Democratic Sen. Lori Berman said that these bills “divert attention and resources from urgent issues that affect the lives of all Floridians.”
DiCeglie said that he and other legislators could “walk and chew gum at the same time” ahead of the 28-9 vote for the reviser bill.
Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, who carried the Senate version of the bill requiring new instructional materials as they come up for replacement to reflect the “Gulf of America” name, said the bill would align Florida with President Donald Trump’s executive order before the 28-9 vote for his measure.
Leadership backs the bills.
“Ever since President Trump entered the Oval Office, he has fought for America first policies that honor our country’s greatness,” said Senate President Ben Albritton. “Mr. President, I’m proud to say that the Florida Senate stands with you in the fight to recognize the Gulf of America and celebrate American exceptionalism.”
Tallahassee Republicans have quickly embraced the new name for the body of water that was called the Gulf of Mexico without controversy until earlier this year.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is backing the President’s preference regarding government documents, pushing for changes on behalf of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Simpson’s goal is to rename the body of water as the Gulf of America “as quickly as possible … in all department administrative rules, forms, maps, and resources.”
While there’s more controversy outside Tallahassee (The Associated Press and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum haven’t accepted the Gulf of America designation), that’s not germane to the legislative process in the Sunshine State.
13 comments
Michael K
April 9, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Will people like me, who call it by its real name – Gulf of Mexico – be deported without due process to a “re-education” camp in El Salvador to die a slow and painful death?
Peachy
April 9, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Drama Queen.
Oscar
April 11, 2025 at 12:49 pm
We should be so lucky, but alas the authoritarian left and its woke-speak idiocy massively lost the last round of elections, so there is no need to worry about being cancelled or reeducated.
Peachy
April 12, 2025 at 5:53 pm
Will DeSantis sign them or will he pull a Deegan non commitment? DeSantis is a leader. He will sign unlike the Jax jellyfish.
Earl Pitts American
April 12, 2025 at 9:27 pm
Good evening Florida,
NAMES WE WERE ALSO CONSIDERING:
The Gulf of Trump
The Gulf of Desantis
The Gulf of Florida
The Gulf of Earl Pitts American
The Gulf of Not Mexcio
I, Earl Pitts American, am joyfull that The Gulf of America made the final cut.
Thank you, Florida,
Earl Pitts American
Michael K
April 13, 2025 at 6:40 am
Be sure to order some “Freedom Fries” with your next name change.
How soon we forget that this was nothing more than a self-indulgent Super Bowl stunt at our expense.
Peachy
April 13, 2025 at 7:17 am
Once again, where were you when Obama changed the name of Mt McKinley to Denali?
Michael K
April 13, 2025 at 8:06 am
Please do your homework: It has ALWAYS been Denali to the Alskan people. Always. For millennia. It was never Mount McKinley. Never. Ever. Obama honored the will of the Alskan people. Ask Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
I don’t recall any public process or commission or outcry for renaming the Gulf of Mexico – do you?
whatabout whatabout whatabout.
Peachy
April 13, 2025 at 8:12 am
More spin from Chicken Little. I actually went to Mt McKinley. That’s right it was named that in 1917 and stayed that way until Obama signed the papers officially changing it to Denali. What about that? 😜
ScienceBLVR
April 13, 2025 at 8:23 am
There is a difference between renaming a park, or street, or college(Wilton Simpson U?) or even a mountain when its location is within your own neighborhood, city, county, state, or country. Renaming a body of water on the planet that happens to border a part of your country?
Just say no Kids!
Stay Salty and Resist!
Established 1550 Gulf of Mexico-Now and Forever!
Peachy
April 13, 2025 at 8:45 am
Both name changes were signed by US President’s. More spin.
Michael K
April 13, 2025 at 9:18 am
The State of Alaska officially reverted to the original name “Denali” in 1975 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The federal government did the same following extensive bi partisan support from real Alaskans. It was not a stupid stunt or a whim. It was the will of the people.
I worked on a project with Alaskan partners in 2007. I know what they called it. And why.
Peachy
April 13, 2025 at 9:26 am
It was McKinley when I toured it in 2005. Keep spinning
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