Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act
Term Dictionary
If you come across any unfamiliar words while reading, these resources can help make everything clearer. Pick whichever one works best for you!
- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
Senator Gillibrand's bill locks in the names of the five Great Lakes and cancels an executive order that renamed Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'.
Who wins, who loses
- Wins: Great Lakes states, mapmakers, Indigenous communities, and residents who opposed the renaming.
- Loses: the Trump administration and supporters of Executive Order 14422.
What it does
- Bans the President, Interior Secretary, and federal employees from renaming Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, or Ontario.
- Declares Executive Order 14422 (August 27, 2026) has no force or effect.
- Blocks any 'substantially similar' future executive order on Great Lakes names.
- Prohibits any federal funds from being spent to implement the renaming.
Why should I care?
Supporters say geographic names shouldn't flip with each administration and that Lake Ontario is shared with Canada, making unilateral renaming a diplomatic mess. Critics argue the President has long held authority over federal place names and Congress is overreaching to score political points. Textbooks, maps, and apps all depend on the outcome. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.