US President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” recently, sparking backlash from some Americans, including members of the House of Representatives.
Democratic representatives Tim Kennedy, Joe Morelle, and Debbie Dingell introduced the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act to reverse the name change and prevent future renaming of any Great Lake.
This move comes after Google renamed Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its Maps app for US users, following reports that Trump urged Apple to do the same. However, MapQuest has stated it will not change the name.
Kennedy, who represents an electoral district bordering Canada, discussed the bill with The Current, expressing his opposition to the name change as a distraction from more significant economic issues like tariffs imposed on Canada.
He emphasized the importance of the US-Canada relationship, highlighting the intertwined history and economic ties between the two countries. Kennedy criticized Trump’s actions and emphasized the need for accountability in government.
Despite the current slim Republican majority in the House, Kennedy remains optimistic that bipartisan support can be garnered for the bill, citing previous successful bipartisan efforts to challenge the president’s policies.
As the midterm elections approach, Kennedy believes that the American public will respond to the current administration’s actions and support a shift in power towards Democrats to restore order and accountability in government.