Gulf of America Act

This section formally changes the official designation of the body of water currently known as the 'Gulf of Mexico' to the 'Gulf of America'. This is the core legislative action of the bill, establishing a new, permanent name for this significant geographic feature within United States law and official recognition. The change is direct and unambiguous, altering how the body of water will be referred to in all future federal contexts.

This provision establishes a legal rule of construction, stipulating that any existing or future reference found in a United States law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other official record to the 'Gulf of Mexico' shall automatically be interpreted and understood as a reference to the newly designated 'Gulf of America'. This crucial clause prevents the need for extensive, time-consuming, and costly amendments to countless federal documents and statutes that currently mention the Gulf of Mexico, ensuring a smooth transition to the new nomenclature.

This section details the administrative process for implementing the name change. It assigns oversight responsibility to the Secretary of the Interior, specifically through the Chairman of the Board on Geographic Names, for ensuring that all federal documents and maps are updated. Furthermore, it imposes a clear deadline, requiring the head of every federal agency to complete the update of their respective documents and maps in accordance with the renaming within 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, ensuring timely compliance across the federal government.