The Texas Public Policy Foundation supports Senate Bill 1717 (2025) and Senate Joint Resolution 63 (2025), introduced by Senator Middleton. These legislative measures propose to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” within Texas statutes and the Texas Constitution. This paper outlines the rationale behind this proposal, provides historical and geopolitical context, and highlights the economic significance of this body of water to Texas and the United States.
Dr. Brent Bennett’s Testimony Before the House State Affairs Committee: Data Centers & 765-kV Transmission Lines
Testimony of Brent Bennett, Ph.D. Policy Director, Life:Powered Texas Public Policy Foundation Before the House State Affairs Committee August 19, 2026 Chairman King and Members of the Committee: Thank you for this opportunity to testify about the important challenges facing the Texas electric grid and specifically the challenges and opportunities being presented by data centers....