Press Releases

Today, Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-04) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to reverse the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) rule that targeted oil and gas production in the outer continental shelf.

"The Biden administration steamrolled the American energy sector with burdensome regulations on U.S. oil and gas production, driving up costs and stifling growth," Ezell said. "These policies have only hurt American workers and consumers. Under the Trump administration, I’m hopeful we can leverage the Congressional Review Act to roll back these harmful rules and restore commonsense energy policies that put America first."

“Advancing an America first agenda and restoring domestic energy dominance starts by reversing the disastrous policies implemented by the Biden-Harris administration," House Natural Resources Chairman Westerman said. "It’s time to put American industries back in the driver’s seat and allow our homegrown energy innovation to thrive. I thank Congressman Ezell for his thoughtful work to support small businesses developing our abundant resources in the Gulf of America, Alaska, and beyond.” 

Background:

• On Sept. 3, 2024, the Biden administration published a rule requiring all new oil and gas leaseholders on the outer continental shelf to submit an archaeological report to the BOEM before drilling or laying pipelines. The rule burdens lessees with conducting costly surveys for marine archaeological resources, such as shipwrecks or “cultural resources.” 

• This rule replaces BOEM’s long-standing policy of requiring oil and gas operators to conduct archaeological surveys only when there was a “reason to believe” that an archaeological resource may be present. 

• The Biden administration admitted that this rule would harm small oil and gas producers most, writing, “100 percent of the increased Gulf of [america] compliance cost . . . would be borne by operators that are small entities.” Small and independent operators account for one-third of all oil production in the Gulf of America.

The Senate version was introduced by Senator John Kennedy and Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith and passed with bipartisan support earlier this week.

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