Several Florida lawmakers have filed bills that would officially rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” in state statutes and educational materials.
The proposals, filed by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), Representative Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami), Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach), and House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island), aim to implement a previous executive order related to the renaming of the Gulf.
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Under the proposed legislation, state agencies, county school districts, and charter schools would be required to update their materials to reflect the new name. Additionally, U.S. 41, from Miami-Dade County to Hillsborough County, would be designated as the “Gulf of America Trail.”
Senator Gruters, who introduced SB 1058, stated that the name change would “better reflect the historical and cultural significance of the Gulf of Mexico to the United States.”
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The bills have generated mixed reactions, with some expressing support for the change and others criticizing it as unnecessary and politically motivated.
The proposals will be considered during the upcoming legislative session, which begins on March 4th.
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