State Representative David Maloney is advancing a legislative resolution to rename Lake Erie as Lake Pennsylvania, arguing that the commonwealth’s economy and identity are increasingly connected to its shoreline, according to a September 8 press release from his office. Maloney, a Republican representing Pennsylvania’s 130th Legislative District in Berks County, is urging President Donald Trump, Congress, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to initiate the formal federal name change.
Legislative Justification and Economic Arguments
According to Maloney’s office, the push stems from the state’s active stewardship and heavy recreational use of the water body. Maloney pointed to research from the Pennsylvania Sea Grant and noted that the state stocked almost 500,000 yearling steelhead in 2025, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the total fish stocked across the entire lake. Pennsylvanians frequently travel to the shoreline for boating, fishing, and family visits, generating local economic activity, according to the lawmaker.
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“Ohio has plenty of shoreline. New York already has two Great Lakes. Canada has four others,” Maloney said in the release. When contacted by Newsweek, Maloney’s office added: “The press release explains how Pennsylvanians’ care of their great lake draws other lake state residents to it for recreation and world class fishing. Be proud and own it.”
Precedents and Federal Naming Authority
The proposal follows an August 27 executive order signed by President Trump directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” amid ongoing trade friction and tariff announcements involving Canada, according to federal and news reports. Following that designation, the administration also floated potential renamings for other geographic features, including the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, alongside a social media post suggesting New Mexico become “New America.”
Under U.S. federal guidelines, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names requires compelling reasons and documented evidence of public support for any alterations to established geographic names, and the agency generally discourages such changes. Furthermore, any federal decision by the U.S. government would apply solely to federal departments and agencies. Because Canada maintains independent geographical naming authorities, a U.S. designation would not alter the official name of the water body outside American jurisdiction, mirroring the dynamic established with Lake Ontario.
Geographic and Historical Context of Lake Erie
Bordering the U.S.–Canada border, Lake Erie is bounded by Ontario to the north, and by Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York on the American side. It ranks as the smallest Great Lake by volume and the shallowest in the system. Historical records from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy indicate that the lake derives its name from the Indigenous populations inhabiting its southern shores during the early 1600s. The term “Erie” is a shortened derivative of the Iroquoian word “Erielhonan,” which translates to “long tail” and references the eastern cougar. According to the National Museum of the Great Lakes, European explorers encountered Lake Erie last among the Great Lakes, making its eventual control strategically vital for securing navigational access above Niagara Falls.
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