US House passes bill regarding Trump's Gulf of America

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to formally change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, following President Donald Trump's executive order, though the measure is unlikely to succeed in the Senate.

The House voted to change the name for the body of water which borders five states in the southeastern U.S. and a large swath Mexico, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea.

If the Senate also approves the Gulf of America name, it will be more difficult for future presidents to change Trump's executive orders.

The Senate is dominated by Republicans, with a majority of 53 to 47. It normally takes 60 votes for legislation to be passed.

The House bill was sponsored by Republican firebrand Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. She is a vocal Trump fan.

Since more than 400 year, the water is referred to as Gulf of Mexico and it has become internationally recognized. The presidents of the United States have the authority to decide on geographic names that are used within the federal government. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft; Richard Cowan)

(source: Reuters)