U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle has introduced legislation that would block President Donald Trump from renaming Lake Ontario ― or any of the five Great Lakes ― calling it a necessary intervention to preserve history.
Trump signed an executive order Aug. 27 directing officials to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada. The move followed a similar order to rename the Gulf of Mexico last year. Local officials scoffed at the name change.
The lake's name predates the founding of Canada. The name "Ontario" comes from an Indigenous term, though sources differ on the exact translation. The Center for Great Lakes Literacy says the name comes from the Iroquoian word "oniatarí," meaning "lake of shining waters."
The name began
appearing on maps created by European explorers in the 1660s. The name Ontario was later adopted for the Canadian province that borders the lake.
Dueling bills bring Lake Ontario dispute to Congress
Morelle's bill ― Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act ― would prohibit any president, secretary of the interior or federal official acting with presidential authority from changing the names of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie or Lake Superior. The proposed legislation would overturn Trump's recent executive order and prohibit federal funds from being used to carry out the renaming.
"Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario," Morelle said in a statement. "No executive order, proclamation, or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that. Families are worried about paying their bills. Businesses are looking for certainty. Communities like ours are asking Washington to focus on the challenges that actually affect people's lives. And Donald Trump is spending his time trying to rename a lake."
He called the executive order an embarrassing distraction.
The legislation is co-led by fellow Democrats, Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Rep. Tim Kennedy of Buffalo.
It was challenged, however, by a dueling bill introduced Aug. 31 by Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida. His proposed legislation ― the Lake America Act ― moves to officially rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. Patronis represents parts of Florida that border the Gulf of Mexico.
"Canada can call it whatever they want, but here in America, I say we call it Lake America," Patronis said in a statement. "I'm a proud American, and I've always believed there's nothing wrong with a little more American pride. So I figured, why stop at the Gulf? Lake America sounds a whole lot better."
Trump's order directs the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to update the federal Geographic Names Information System and other government references within 30 days. It does not and cannot compel Canada or other countries to adopt the new name.
— Includes reporting by Madison Scott and Marcia Greenwood
— Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on immigration, police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Instagram @bykaylacanne. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Morelle moves to block Trump from renaming Lake Ontario
