5
Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025
5/22/2025, 2:56 PM
Summary of Bill HR 513
The main purpose of this bill is to limit the President's ability to block access to offshore areas that have not yet been leased for energy development. By nullifying previous withdrawals of unleased land and establishing new limits on future withdrawals, the bill aims to promote increased exploration and development of offshore resources.
Supporters of the bill argue that it will help to boost domestic energy production and create jobs in the oil and gas industry. They believe that by opening up more offshore areas for exploration, the United States can reduce its dependence on foreign oil and strengthen its energy security. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that it could have negative environmental impacts by allowing for increased drilling in sensitive offshore areas. They also raise concerns about the potential for oil spills and other disasters that could harm marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Overall, Bill 119 hr 513 is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to balance the need for energy development with environmental protection. Its fate in Congress remains uncertain as lawmakers continue to debate the potential consequences of its passage.
Congressional Summary of HR 513
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.
Read the Full Bill
Current Status of Bill HR 513
Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 513
Total Number of Sponsors
1Democrat Sponsors
0Republican Sponsors
1Unaffiliated Sponsors
0Total Number of Cosponsors
91Democrat Cosponsors
0Republican Cosponsors
91Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 513
Primary Policy Focus
EnergyAlternate Title(s) of Bill HR 513
Comments
Gwendolyn Woods
1 year ago
I think this bill is a good idea. It will help protect our offshore land and limit the President's authority to withdraw it. It's important to preserve our natural resources for future generations. #ProtectOurLand #PreserveOurFuture
