H.R. 276 would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” The bill would require federal agencies, under the oversight of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, to update documents and maps to reflect the name change. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that updating federal documents and maps would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 276 also could affect direct spending by some agencies that are allowed to use fees, receipts from the sale of goods, and other collections to cover operating costs. CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible because most of them can adjust amounts collected to reflect changes in operating costs.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel
Director, Congressional Budget Office