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HOUSE 513119th CongressReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Supporting the designation of the second Friday of June as "National Service and Conservation Corps Day".

Last Action
6/12/2025

Actions

  • 2025-05-20Subcommittee Hearings Held
  • 2025-05-13Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • 2025-01-16Referred 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.
  • 2025-01-16Referred 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.
  • 2025-01-16Introduced in House
  • 2025-01-16Introduced in House

CRS Summary

As of 2025-01-16 (00)

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.

Cosponsors (20)

  • Wesley Hunt (R-TX)
  • Randy Weber (R-TX)
  • Tim Burchett (R-TN)
  • Jefferson Shreve (R-IN)
  • Daniel Meuser (R-PA)
  • Jodey Arrington (R-TX)
  • Carol Miller (R-WV)
  • Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)
  • Josh Brecheen (R-OK)
  • Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
  • Scott Perry (R-PA)
  • Thomas Tiffany (R-WI)
  • Mary Miller (R-IL)
  • Andrew Ogles (R-TN)
  • Eric Burlison (R-MO)
  • Andrew Clyde (R-GA)
  • Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
  • Andy Harris (R-MD)
  • Barry Moore (R-AL)
  • Pete Stauber (R-MN)

Subjects

  • Congressional-executive branch relations
  • Land use and conservation
  • Legislative rules and procedure
  • Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
  • Mining
  • Oil and gas
  • Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
  • Seashores and lakeshores
Read on Congress.gov

Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.