Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

Summary

Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 This bill limits the withdrawal of unleased lands of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from areas that may be leased for mineral development and nullifies certain past withdrawals. The OCS includes the federally managed ocean area extending from the outer boundaries of state-controlled waters (generally 3 nautical miles [nmi] from shore) to 200 nmi from shore, with some exceptions. Specifically, the bill limits the President's authority to restrict offshore development of minerals, such as oil and gas, on the OCS. For example, the bill (1) caps the number of acres of OCS lands that a President may withdraw from areas that may be leased; (2) prohibits withdrawals from being made for a period longer than 20 years; (3) prohibits the President from making withdrawals of unleased land that conflict with areas included in lease sales scheduled under approved oil and gas leasing programs; and (4) prohibits the President from withdrawing unleased lands unless the Department of the Interior has completed assessments addressing issues such as mineral resources and the national security, economic, and energy value of the identified mineral deposits. The President must also obtain congressional approval before withdrawing more than 500,000 acres cumulatively. Further, the bill gives Congress the authority to review and disapprove withdrawals by enacting a joint resolution. In addition, the bill nullifies certain presidential memoranda and executive orders related to withdrawing unleased land from areas that may be leased for the development of oil, gas, or other minerals on the OCS.

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Timeline

1. 16 January 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 16 January 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 January 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 13 May 2025

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

   Source: Committee

5. 20 May 2025

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 16 January 2025

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 16 January 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] · R · Sponsor
• Wesley Hunt · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] · R · Sponsor
• Tim Burchett · R · Sponsor
• Jefferson Shreve · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2] · R · Sponsor
• Beth Van Duyne · R · Sponsor
• Scott Perry · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7] · R · Sponsor
• Andrew Clyde · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] · R · Sponsor
• Andy Harris · R · Sponsor
• Barry Moore · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] · R · Cosponsor
• Troy Balderson · R · Cosponsor
• James Baird · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] · R · Cosponsor
• · hsii00 · Standing
• · hsru00 · Standing

Related records

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