Gillibrand's federal bill would prevent Lake Ontario name change

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).......When Sen. Kristen Gillibrand was in Buffalo last week, she expressed a certain level of frustration over President Trump's executive order that changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.

Now, Gillibrand has channeled those frustrations into a proposed new, federal bill that would prevent Trump from renaming or rebranding any of the five Great Lakes including Lake Ontario.

Called the "Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act," the bill will up for review this fall by federal lawmakers as will companion bills in the House of Representatives - one from Buffalo Congressman Tim Kennedy and his Rochester counterpart and fellow Democrat Joseph Morelle.

Gillibrand called the Lake Ontario rebranding "a weak attempt" and a distraction from such key issues as rising costs and cutting federal programs.

"Instead of renaming Great Lakes for no good reason, the president should stop the political games, get back to the negotiation table, and make a deal that lowers costs for New York families," Gillibrand.

Gillibrand's proposed federal; bill is the latest chapter in the ongoing political sage centering on the Lake Ontario name.

Lake Ontario is not named after the Canadian province.

Ontario, in the indigenous and Seneca Nation of Indians language translates to "beautiful lake."

The Seneca Nation of Indians have also protested against the Lake Ontario rebranding, calling an insult to their cultural history.

"Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario," Morelle said. "No executive order, proclamation or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that."

But, State Sen. Robert Ortt, a Republican, said he feels the whole issue is a ploy by Trump as he attempts to negotiation trade and tariffs deal with Canada.

"People are going to call it whatever they want," Ortt said.