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Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-513| House 
| Updated: 5/20/2025
Clay Higgins

Clay Higgins

Republican Representative

Louisiana

Cosponsors (25)
Dusty Johnson (Republican)Barry Moore (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Andy Harris (Republican)Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican)Beth Van Duyne (Republican)Andrew Ogles (Republican)Andy Biggs (Republican)Scott Perry (Republican)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Daniel Meuser (Republican)James R. Baird (Republican)Jefferson Shreve (Republican)Carol D. Miller (Republican)Jodey C. Arrington (Republican)Harriet M. Hageman (Republican)Mary E. Miller (Republican)Pete Stauber (Republican)Wesley Hunt (Republican)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Andrew S. Clyde (Republican)Josh Brecheen (Republican)Troy Balderson (Republican)Eric Burlison (Republican)

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Rules Committee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025," aims to reverse specific past executive actions and significantly restrict future Presidential authority over unleased offshore lands. It explicitly nullifies several Presidential withdrawals of unleased offshore areas from mineral leasing, including those affecting the Arctic, North Aleutian Basin, Northern Bering Sea, Atlantic coast, and Gulf of Mexico. These nullified actions date from 2014 through 2025, effectively reopening these areas for potential leasing. The legislation amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to impose new limitations on the President's power to withdraw unleased offshore lands. Future withdrawals are restricted to a maximum of 150,000 acres and a duration of no more than 20 years . Additionally, no President may cumulatively withdraw more than 500,000 acres without explicit Congressional approval. Before any new withdrawal, the bill mandates that the Secretary complete several assessments . These include a geophysical and geological mineral resource assessment, an evaluation of the economic, energy, and national security value of identified mineral deposits, and an assessment of the expected reduction in future Federal revenues. The results of these comprehensive assessments must then be reported to relevant Congressional committees. The bill also establishes an expedited Congressional disapproval procedure for Presidential withdrawals. This process allows Congress to pass a joint resolution to nullify a withdrawal, which, if enacted, prevents the withdrawal from taking effect or continuing. A disapproved withdrawal cannot be reissued in a substantially similar form without new legislative authorization, and judicial review of this disapproval process is explicitly prohibited.
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Timeline
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
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.
May 13, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
May 20, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    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.


  • May 13, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


  • May 20, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held

Energy

Congressional-executive branch relationsLand use and conservationLegislative rules and procedureMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMiningOil and gasPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsSeashores and lakeshores

Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-513| House 
| Updated: 5/20/2025
This bill, titled the "Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025," aims to reverse specific past executive actions and significantly restrict future Presidential authority over unleased offshore lands. It explicitly nullifies several Presidential withdrawals of unleased offshore areas from mineral leasing, including those affecting the Arctic, North Aleutian Basin, Northern Bering Sea, Atlantic coast, and Gulf of Mexico. These nullified actions date from 2014 through 2025, effectively reopening these areas for potential leasing. The legislation amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to impose new limitations on the President's power to withdraw unleased offshore lands. Future withdrawals are restricted to a maximum of 150,000 acres and a duration of no more than 20 years . Additionally, no President may cumulatively withdraw more than 500,000 acres without explicit Congressional approval. Before any new withdrawal, the bill mandates that the Secretary complete several assessments . These include a geophysical and geological mineral resource assessment, an evaluation of the economic, energy, and national security value of identified mineral deposits, and an assessment of the expected reduction in future Federal revenues. The results of these comprehensive assessments must then be reported to relevant Congressional committees. The bill also establishes an expedited Congressional disapproval procedure for Presidential withdrawals. This process allows Congress to pass a joint resolution to nullify a withdrawal, which, if enacted, prevents the withdrawal from taking effect or continuing. A disapproved withdrawal cannot be reissued in a substantially similar form without new legislative authorization, and judicial review of this disapproval process is explicitly prohibited.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
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.
May 13, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
May 20, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    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.


  • May 13, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


  • May 20, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held
Clay Higgins

Clay Higgins

Republican Representative

Louisiana

Cosponsors (25)
Dusty Johnson (Republican)Barry Moore (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Andy Harris (Republican)Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican)Beth Van Duyne (Republican)Andrew Ogles (Republican)Andy Biggs (Republican)Scott Perry (Republican)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Daniel Meuser (Republican)James R. Baird (Republican)Jefferson Shreve (Republican)Carol D. Miller (Republican)Jodey C. Arrington (Republican)Harriet M. Hageman (Republican)Mary E. Miller (Republican)Pete Stauber (Republican)Wesley Hunt (Republican)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Andrew S. Clyde (Republican)Josh Brecheen (Republican)Troy Balderson (Republican)Eric Burlison (Republican)

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Rules Committee, Natural Resources Committee

Energy

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional-executive branch relationsLand use and conservationLegislative rules and procedureMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMiningOil and gasPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsSeashores and lakeshores