U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” sparking mixed reactions among Americans, including dissent from some House of Representatives members. 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 of the Great Lakes.

This move follows Google’s controversial decision to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its Google Maps app for American users, with reports that Trump urged Apple to do the same on Apple Maps. In contrast, MapQuest publicized its decision not to alter the name on social media.

Kennedy, a Buffalonian whose district borders Canada, discussed the motivation behind the bill during an interview. He criticized the president’s diversionary tactics and emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with Canada. Kennedy highlighted the historical and economic interconnectedness between the two countries, citing examples such as the GM plant in Tonawanda, which demonstrates the extensive trade partnership.

The representative stressed the need to challenge Trump’s actions that could jeopardize the close relationship with Canadian neighbors. Despite the current Republican majority in the House, Kennedy expressed confidence that bipartisan support, coupled with public opposition to the president’s policies, would lead to a significant shift in the upcoming midterm elections.

The bill to reverse the Lake Ontario name change faces the challenge of gaining sufficient Republican backing, but Kennedy remains optimistic that the American people will respond to what he perceives as irresponsible governance, ultimately restoring accountability and order to the government.