Lawmakers Greenlight Bill Mandating Gulf of America Education in Schools

On May 6, state lawmakers in Arizona granted final approval for a bill mandating that high school students learn to refer to the body of water extending from Florida to the Yucatán as the Gulf of America. The bill now awaits the decision of Governor Katie Hobbs.

House Bill 2700, introduced by Rep. Theresa Martinez, emerged following President Trump’s directive to rename the historically recognized Gulf of Mexico. Martinez, a Republican from Casa Grande, emphasized the importance of fostering patriotic sentiments in education.

“Teaching pro-America values is crucial,” she stated during the bill’s passage through the House, with unanimous support from Republicans and opposition from Democrats. “What better way to instill pride than to call it the Gulf of America?”

The Senate subsequently aligned with the House’s decision, also voting strictly along party lines. However, some legislators voiced dissent, highlighting the historical context of the name.

Rep. Lauren Kuby, a Democrat from Tempe, challenged the bill’s premise, stating that the name has roots in both diplomacy and geographic accuracy dating back to the 1600s, long before the U.S. existed.

“At that time, the land was under Spanish, French, and Mexican control,” Kuby remarked. She criticized the bill as part of a broader trend of distorting facts for political purposes.

“If we can manifest our own facts, why not our own oceans?” she quipped, expressing skepticism about the motivations behind the renaming.

Kuby concluded with irony, stating, “Here’s to the Gulf of America—proudly polluted and only partially under U.S. control. May the next hurricane come with patriotic intent.”