Lawmakers from Western New York and Michigan are working together to propose the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes” Act, which seeks to block the president and other federal officials from renaming any of the Great Lakes.
The proposed legislation also seeks to nullify the executive order that renamed Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”
“Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. No executive order, proclamation, or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “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. “This is ridiculous, it’s embarrassing, and it’s exactly the kind of unserious distraction Americans are tired of. President Trump can play games with a map all he wants, but I’m not going to stand by while he wastes the authority and resources of the federal government doing it. Here in Rochester, we’ll keep calling it Lake Ontario. And in Congress, I’m working with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way.”
The “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act” was co-authored by Morelle, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D, MI-06) and Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26).
“Americans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials, and yet this President chooses to pick petty fights with our closest ally,” said Kennedy. “This unserious, unacceptable attempt to rename the historic, shared Lake Ontario adds insult to injury as Trump’s tariffs drive up costs, making an already difficult situation worse. Our families, workers, and businesses need an administration focused on lowering costs and strengthening our economy, not distractions. Renaming a lake won’t put food on the table, lower anyone’s bills, or create a single job. It is a pathetic attempt to distract from an affordability crisis that this President has failed to fix.”