89–006 

116TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 116–156 

PROTECTING AND SECURING FLORIDA’S COASTLINE ACT 

OF 2019 

JULY 16, 2019.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. GRIJALVA, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 205] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 205) to amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 

2006 to permanently extend the moratorium on leasing in certain 

areas of the Gulf of Mexico, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 

do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 205 is to amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy 

Security Act of 2006 to permanently extend the moratorium on 

leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is the portion of the ocean 

seabed under federal jurisdiction, generally running from 3 to 200 

miles out from the coastline. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in the Department of the Interior (DOI) is responsible for oil and gas leasing on the OCS. BOEM has divided the 

OCS into 26 administrative planning areas—11 along the Lower 48 

states, and 15 along Alaska. Under the Outer Continental Shelf 

Lands Act (OCSLA), DOI must go through a multi-step process to 


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1 43 U.S.C. § 1344. 

2 Curry L. Hagerty, Cong. Research. Serv., R41132, Outer Continental Shelf Moratoria on Oil 

and Gas Development (2011). 3The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA), Pub. L. No. 109–432, div. C, 

tit. I, 120 Stat. 3000 et seq. (2006). GOMESA also placed approximately 3 percent of the Central 

Gulf of Mexico planning area under a leasing moratorium. 4Statement on Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Development, 26 Weekly Comp. Pres. 

Doc. 1006 (June 26, 1990). 5Memorandum on Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf 

from Leasing Disposition, 34 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1111 (June 12, 1998); see also Pub. L. 

No. 105–83, §§ 108–111, 111 Stat. 1543, 1561–62 (1997). 6Memorandum on Modification of the Withdrawal of Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition, 44 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 986 (July 14, 2008); see also 

Memorandum on Modification of the June 12, 1998, Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United 

States Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition, 43 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 19 (Jan. 

9, 2007); Pub. L. No. 109–432, § 103(b), 120 Stat. 2922, 3002 (2006); Pub. L. No. 109–54, §§ 104– 

06, 119 Stat. 499, 521–22 (2005). 7 Exec. Order No. 13,795 (Apr. 28, 2017), 82 Fed. Reg. 20,815 (May 3, 2017); see also Emily 

Yehle, Trump Lifts Obama’s Ban as Greens Promise Legal Assault, E&E News (Apr. 28, 2017), 

https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060053776/. 8Order Re Motions for Summary Judgment (Doc. 80), League of Conservation Voters v. 

Trump, 3:17–cv–00101 (D. Alaska Mar. 29, 2019). 9Dep’t of the Interior, Secretarial Order No. 3350 (May 1, 2017), https://www.doi.gov/sites/ 

doi.gov/files/press-release/secretarial-order-3350-offshore-508.pdf. 

identify what parts of the OCS will be available for oil and gas 

leasing over a five-year period. BOEM is responsible for preparing 

the leasing program, known as the National OCS Oil and Gas 

Leasing Program (also known as the Five-Year Program). Section 

18 of OCSLA lays out the process for developing the Five-Year Program, as well as the environmental, economic, and social factors 

that the Secretary must consider and balance in determining the 

timing and location of the sales.1

Between 1982 and 2008, Congress used annual appropriations 

bills to prevent agency spending on oil and gas leasing in various 

portions of the OCS, with the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts offlimits from Fiscal Year 1992 through Fiscal Year 2008.2 In the 

summer of 2008, President George W. Bush announced he would 

veto any appropriations bill that contained an OCS moratorium, 

bringing an end to the policy rider and the decades-long congressional ban for much of the OCS. Currently, the only OCS area 

statutorily withdrawn from oil and gas leasing consideration is the 

Eastern Gulf of Mexico, which was placed under a moratorium 

until June 30, 2022, by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.3

Separate from, but sometimes consistent with, Congressional 

moratoria, Presidents have withdrawn regions of the OCS from oil 

and gas development under Section 12(a) of OCSLA. In June 1990, 

President George H.W. Bush withdrew over 33 million acres 

around parts of Florida, the Pacific coast, and Massachusetts 

through the year 2000.4 In 1998, President Bill Clinton extended 

those withdrawals through 2012 and added the Atlantic coast and 

parts of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Arctic.5 In 2008, President 

Bush lifted nearly all of the Presidential withdrawals.6 President 

Barack Obama later permanently withdrew Bristol Bay in Alaska, 

most of the Arctic Ocean, and small portions of the Atlantic. President Donald Trump reversed all of these other than Bristol Bay in 

April 2017; 7 however, on March 29, 2019, a federal judge in Alaska 

declared these actions illegal and restored the Obama-era protections.8

President Trump’s April 2017 executive order and former Secretary Zinke’s Secretarial Order 3350 9 directed BOEM to initiate 

the planning process for a new Five-Year Program to replace the 


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10https://www.boem.gov/NP-Draft-Proposed-Program-2019-2024/. 11 Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the U.S. Geological Survey: Hearing Before 

the Subcomm. on Energy & Mineral Res. of the H. Comm. on Nat. Res., 116th Cong. (2019) (testimony of Walter Cruickshank, Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management). 12Timothy Puko, Trump’s Offshore Oil-Drilling Plan Sidelined Indefinitely, Wall St. J. (Apr. 

25, 2019). 13FY20 Budget: Department of the Interior: Hearing Before the Subcomm. on Interior, Env’t, 

& Related Agencies of the H. Comm. on Appropriations, 116th Cong. (2019) (testimony of Secretary David Bernhardt, Dep’t of the Interior). 14Dep’t of the Interior, Minerals Mgmt. Serv., Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and 

Gas Leasing Program 2010–2015 (2009). 

2017–2022 Program finalized in January 2017. On January 4, 

2018, BOEM published the 2019–2024 Draft Proposed Program 

(DPP),10 which proposed opening more than 90 percent of the OCS 

to oil and gas leasing, including the entirety of America’s Atlantic, 

Pacific, and Arctic coasts. The DPP also proposed opening the Eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas leasing once the existing moratorium ends in 2022. 

On March 6, 2019, BOEM’s Acting Director, Walter Cruickshank, 

appeared before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 

Resources and testified that BOEM ‘‘will release the Proposed Program in the coming weeks.’’ 11 However, in an interview with The 

Wall Street Journal on April 25, 2019, Secretary David Bernhardt 

indicated that at his direction, development of the proposed program had been placed on hold,12 and on May 7, 2019, before a 

House Appropriations Subcommittee, the Secretary stated that release of ‘‘[the proposed program] is not imminent at this time.’’ 13

The Secretary’s stated reasoning for halting the plan was the 

March 29, 2019, federal court decision reinstating protections from 

leasing in parts of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, despite the fact 

that BOEM has previously released draft plans proposing to lease 

off-limits areas in the event moratoria were removed.14

One likely explanation for the Department’s actions is that the 

Trump Administration intends, if the President is reelected, to include the Eastern Gulf of Mexico in its final Five-Year Program 

and to hold lease sales in the Eastern Gulf as early as 2022. Comments from then-Secretary Zinke and the BOEM Acting Director 

Cruickshank frequently contradicted each other regarding the possibility of leasing around Florida, and efforts to obtain additional 

clarity from Secretary Bernhardt on his plans for the Eastern Gulf 

of Mexico have been fruitless. Given the widespread belief that a 

tweet from Secretary Zinke declaring Florida off-limits to offshore 

oil and gas leasing was issued to support Florida Governor Rick 

Scott in his Senate race, the Committee is concerned that the Administration is playing similar games with its 2019–2024 program 

and intends to wait until after the 2020 presidential election, in 

which Florida may be a key swing state, before revealing an unpopular plan to lease off of Florida’s shore. 

Offshore oil and gas development pose existential threats to Florida’s tourism, fishing, and recreation economy, which rely on clean 

water and healthy beaches. These industries are worth much more 

to the economy and people of Florida than whatever limited benefits would be gained by needlessly drilling for oil and gas in the 

Eastern Gulf, and these industries must be protected by permanently extending the leasing moratorium, as H.R. 205 would accomplish. Fishing, tourism, and recreation in Florida account for 

$37.4 billion in GDP, including $17.5 billion just from the Gulf 


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15OCEANA, Florida’s Clean Coast Economy (2018), http://usa.oceana.org/sites/default/files/ 

4046/florida_updated.pdf. 16Fla. Dep’t of State, Div. of Elections, Nov. 6, 2018 Gen. Election, Official Results: Constitutional Amendment, https://results.elections.myflorida.com/DetailRpt.Asp?ELECTIONDATE=11/6/ 

2018&RACE=A09&PARTY=&DIST=&GRP=&DATAMODE=. 17Oxford Econ., Potential Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill on Tourism 21 (2010), http:// 

www.mississippiriverdelta.org/blog/files/2010/10/ 

Gulf_Oil_Spill_Analysis_Oxford_Economics_710.pdf. 18OCEANA, Ingrid Biedron, Ph.D. & Suzannah Evans, Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon 11 (2016), https://usa.oceana.org/sites/default/files/deepwater_horizon_anniversary_report_updated_4-28.pdf. 19Protecting Coastal Communities from Offshore Drilling: Hearing Before the Subcomm. on 

Energy & Mineral Res. of the H. Comm. on Nat. Res., 116th Cong. (2019) (written testimony 

of David Yates, CEO, Clearwater Marine Aquarium), https://naturalresources.house.gov/imo/ 

media/doc/Testimony%20-%20David%20Yates%20-%2004.02.19.pdf. 20Office of the Secretary of Defense, Preserving Military Readiness in the Eastern Gulf of 

Mexico 21 (2018), http://www.iadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DOD-Offshore-Report.pdf. 

coast, and these activities support more than 600,000 jobs.15 Protecting the Eastern Gulf from oil and gas drilling has broad bipartisan support, including from both Florida Republican U.S. Senators and the Republican Governor. In 2018, Florida voters approved a Constitutional Amendment banning offshore drilling in 

state waters with 68.9 percent of the vote.16

Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, which resulted 

in a blowout of nearly five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of 

Mexico, the west coast of Florida saw negative impacts to the commercial and recreational fishing and tourism industries, largely as 

a result of canceled trips from across the United States. According 

to the U.S. Travel Association, the oil spill would result in the loss 

of at least $7.6 billion in tourism revenues across the Gulf, with potential losses as high as $22.7 billion.17 The decline in recreational 

fishing was dramatic Gulf-wide: according to the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration, from May to August 2010, forhire fishing trips declined by 98 percent in Mississippi, 80 percent 

in Alabama, 60 percent in Louisiana, and 33 percent in western 

Florida.18 According to CEO David Yates, Florida’s Clearwater Marine Aquarium suffered a decrease of 10 percent in year-to-year attendance growth the quarter the spill occurred.19

In addition to the impacts that drilling in the Eastern Gulf of 

Mexico would have on Florida’s economy, drilling would compromise military readiness, and the Department of Defense (DOD) 

has voiced opposition to the idea of oil and gas activities in this region. In May 2018, DOD published Preserving Military Readiness 

in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, which concluded: ‘‘[i]f oil and gas development were to extend east of the [Military Mission Line], without sufficient surface limiting stipulations and/or oil and gas activity restrictions mutually agreed by the DoD and [Interior Department], military flexibility in the region would be lost and test and 

training activities would be severely affected.’’ 20 In testimony submitted to the Committee in support of H.R. 205, Jim Heald, a retired United States Air Force Colonel with 26 years of service and 

a current member of the Florida Defense Support Task Force, reiterated the military importance of the existing moratorium in the 

Eastern Gulf and offered his full support for the bill. 

Florida’s coastal ecosystems and tourism-reliant businesses are 

too important to risk by opening the Eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil 

and gas leasing. Given the Trump administration’s focus on extracting as much oil and gas from federal lands and federal waters 

as possible, and their announced interest in holding a lease sale in 


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the Eastern Gulf as early as 2022, H.R. 205 is needed to permanently protect this militarily and economically vital region. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 205 was introduced on January 3, 2019, by Representative 

Francis Rooney (R–FL). The bill was referred solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. On April 2, 2019, 

the Subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation. On June 19, 

2019, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. 

The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. Ranking 

Member Rob Bishop (R–UT) offered and withdrew an amendment 

designated Bishop #1. Representative Garret Graves (R–LA) offered an amendment designated Graves #1. The amendment was 

not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 21 nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Mr. Graves #1 amendment 

Disposition: Not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 21 

nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 14 21 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Representative Graves offered amendments designated Graves 

#2 and Graves #3 en bloc. The amendments were not agreed to by 

a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 21 nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Mr. Graves #2 and #3 amendments offered en bloc 

Disposition: Not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 21 

nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 14 21 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Representative Graves offered an amendment designated Graves 

#4. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas 

and 22 nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Mr. Graves #4 amendment 

Disposition: Not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 21 

nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 14 22 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Representative Graves offered an amendment designated Graves 

#5. The amendment was not agreed to by voice vote. Representative Graves offered an amendment designated Graves #6. The 

amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 22 

nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Mr. Graves #6 amendment 

Disposition: Not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 22 

nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 14 22 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Representative Graves offered an amendment designated Graves 

#7. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas 

and 22 nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Mr. Graves #7 amendment 

Disposition: Not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 22 

nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 14 22 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Representative Graves offered an amendment designated Graves 

#8. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas 

and 22 nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Mr. Graves #8 amendment 

Disposition: Not agreed to by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 22 

nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ ........ X ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... ........ X ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 14 22 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

The bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by a roll call vote of 24 yeas and 12 nays, as follows: 

Bill/Motion: H.R. 205 

Amendment: Final Passage 

Disposition: H.R. 205 was adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by a roll call vote of 24 yeas 

and 12 nays. 

DEM. MEMBERS (25) YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

Mr. Brown, MD .......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Cartwright, PA .................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Case, HI .............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Clay, MO ............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Costa, CA ........................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Cox, CA ............................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Cunningham, SC ................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Ms. DeGette, CO ....................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mrs. Dingell, MI ........................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Gallego, AZ ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Grijalva, AZ (Chair) ............................................................................................ X ........ ................

Ms. Haaland, NM ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Horsford, NV ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Huffman, CA ....................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Levin, CA ............................................................................................................ X ........ ................

Mr. Lowenthal, CA .................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. McEachin, VA ..................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Ms. Napolitano, CA ................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Neguse, CO ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Sablan, CNMI ..................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. San Nicolas, GU ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Soto, FL .............................................................................................................. X ........ ................

Mr. Van Drew, NJ ...................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Tonko, NY ........................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Ms. Vela ́zquez, NY .................................................................................................... X ........ ................

REP. MEMBERS (19) Y N P 

Mr. Bishop, UT (Ranking) ......................................................................................... ........ X ................

Ms. Cheney, WY ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Cook, CA ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Curtis, UT ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

Mr. Fulcher, ID .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Gohmert, TX ........................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Miss Gonza ́ lez-Colo ́n, PR .......................................................................................... X ........ ................


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Mr. Gosar, AZ ............................................................................................................ ........ X ................

Mr. Graves, LA .......................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Hern, OK ............................................................................................................. ........ X ................

Mr. Hice, GA .............................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Johnson, LA ........................................................................................................ ........ ........ ................

Mr. Lamborn, CO ...................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. McClintock, CA ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mrs. Radewagen, AS ................................................................................................. ........ ........ ................

Mr. Webster, FL ......................................................................................................... X ........ ................

Mr. Westerman, AR ................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Wittman, VA ....................................................................................................... ........ X ................

Mr. Young, AK ........................................................................................................... ........ ........ ................

TOTALS .................................................................................................... 24 12 ................

Total: 44/Quorum: 15/Report: 23 ........................................................... YEAS NAYS PRESENT 

HEARINGS

For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 116th Congress—the following hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 

205: a legislative hearing titled ‘‘Protecting Coastal Communities 

from Offshore Drilling’’ held by the Subcommittee on Energy and 

Mineral Resources on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in 

Room 1334 of the Longworth House Office Building. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives and sections 308(a) and 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has 

received the following estimate for the bill from the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office: 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, July 12, 2019. 

Hon. RAU ́ L M. GRIJALVA, 

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 205, the Protecting and 

Securing Florida’s Coastline Act of 2019. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Kathleen Gramp. 

Sincerely, 

PHILLIP L. SWAGEL, 

Director. 

Enclosure. 


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The bill would 

• Prohibit future auctions of leases for oil and gas development in areas of the Gulf of Mexico that are within 125 miles 

of the coast of Florida and in most of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 

Estimated budgetary effects would primarily stem from 

• Reducing collections of offsetting receipts from offshore oil 

and gas leases 

• Reducing spending subject to appropriation for administrative expenses related to leasing activities in the affected regions of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 

Areas of significant uncertainty include 

• Estimating the amount and timing of any future government income from oil and gas leasing activities in the affected 

regions of the OCS under current law 

Bill summary: The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 

(GOMESA) imposed a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing 

in areas in the Gulf of Mexico that are within 125 miles of the Florida coast and in most of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Under current 

law, that moratorium will expire on June 30, 2022. H.R. 205 would 

amend existing law to permanently ban oil and gas leasing in those 

regions. 

Estimated Federal Cost: The estimated budgetary effect of H.R. 

205 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within 

budget functions 950 (undistributed offsetting receipts), and 300 

(natural resources and environment). 

TABLE 1.—ESTIMATED BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF H.R. 205 

By fiscal year, millions of dollars— 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2019– 

2024 

2019– 

2029 

Increases in Direct Spending 

Estimated Budget Authority ............ 0 0 0 0 50 50 60 60 60 60 60 100 400 

Estimated Outlays ........................... 0 0 0 0 50 50 60 60 60 60 60 100 400 


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1Since 2015, the top 10 bids in each auction of leases in the Gulf of Mexico have accounted 

for fewer than 10 percent of the leases issued but more than 40 percent of the proceeds generated by the sales. Winning bids from the top 10 leases in the Central Gulf of Mexico have 

declined from an average of about $60 million each over the 2008–2014 period to about $10 million over the past five years. 

TABLE 1.—ESTIMATED BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF H.R. 205—Continued 

By fiscal year, millions of dollars— 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2019– 

2024 

2019– 

2029 

Decreases in Spending Subject to Appropriation 

Estimated Authorization .................. 0 ¥5 ¥6 ¥2 ¥1 ¥1 n.e. n.e. n.e. n.e. n.e. ¥15 n.e. 

Estimated Outlays ........................... 0 ¥3 ¥6 ¥4 ¥1 ¥1 n.e. n.e. n.e. n.e. n.e. ¥15 n.e. 

n.e. = not estimated. 

Basis of estimate: CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted near the end of 2019. 

Background: Companies that lease federal oil and gas resources 

pay a bonus bid when they acquire leases, make rental payments 

on nonproducing acreage, and pay royalties based on the value of 

the oil and gas produced. Using the technical and economic assumptions that underlie CBO’s May 2019 baseline projections, CBO 

estimates that offsetting receipts from leasing activities in all areas 

of the Outer Continental Shelf will total $56 billion over the 2020– 

2029 period. Royalties on production account for about 90 percent 

of that total, and bonus payments for most of the remainder. Because production in the OCS usually begins several years after a 

lease is issued, CBO expects that most of the proceeds during that 

period from leases issued after 2020 would be from bonus payments. 

CBO’s baseline projections of bonus bids reflect recent trends in 

OCS auction proceeds as well as factors that may affect the value 

of resources in specific areas. In particular, CBO considers the 

number of leases acquired by bidders in auctions and trends in the 

winning bids for the top 10 leases, which recently have accounted 

for more than 40 percent of the total proceeds from individual auctions.1 Receipts from individual sales also vary depending on the 

bidders’ assessments of the strategic value of specific geological resources, the degree of competition, and the size of the companies 

acquiring the leases. For new areas, CBO expects that proceeds 

also would reflect the bidders’ assessment of the type and quality 

of the infrastructure and the costs of operating in a region. 

CBO’s baseline projections assume no leasing will occur through 

2022 in the region subject to the GOMESA moratorium. Once those 

statutory restrictions expire, decisions about where and when to 

offer leases in this portion of the OCS will be made by DOI administratively—in consultation with industry and affected states—for 

five year periods. CBO’s baseline projections of oil and gas leasing 

receipts after 2022 reflect the possibility that DOI will authorize 

auctions in those areas under future leasing plans. 

Direct spending: CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 205 would reduce offsetting receipts (which are recorded in the budget as decreases in direct spending) and thus would increase direct spending 

by $400 million over the 2020–2029 period. That estimate reflects 

the effects of prohibiting leasing activity in the OCS that otherwise 

may occur under current law. 


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2For a discussion of Norphlet play (a geological formation in the Gulf of Mexico) and related 

issues, see Brian Scheid, ‘‘With U.S. Offshore Plan Likely Scrapped, Industry Pursues Changes 

to Federal Lease Terms,’’ S&P Global/Platts (May 23, 2019), http://tinyurl.com1yxz6kd9n. 3See Bureau of Ocean Management, 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing 

Draft Proposed Program (January 2015), pp. 3–13, www.boem.gov/2017-2022-0PP (PDF, 6.2 

MB). 

Because no leasing has occurred in the affected region since the 

1980s, estimates of future proceeds are uncertain. Based on recent 

discoveries and infrastructure investments in adjacent areas, CBO 

expects that there may be significant industry interest in some of 

the deepwater resources of the eastern Gulf region.2 Access to 

those areas also was identified as high priority in comments submitted by industry on DOI’s leasing plan for the 2017–2022 period.3 On the other hand, defense-related constraints on operations 

and state siting restrictions on related facilities may reduce the 

value of some leases. In addition, some resources off the coast of 

Florida probably would be excluded from auctions because leasing 

may not be compatible with state coastal zone management plans. 

CBO has no basis to estimate the specific probability of auctions 

occurring in the future. In the absence of specific information, CBO 

uses a 50 percent probability that auctions would occur after 2022 

to reflect the legal authority that would exist after 2022 to hold 

such auctions. 

Taking into account such uncertainties and assuming that 50 

percent chance that auctions would occur after 2022, CBO estimates that, under current law, auctioning leases in areas of the 

OCS currently subject to the GOMESA moratorium would generate 

offsetting receipts totaling $400 million over the 2023–2029 period. 

That estimate is roughly equivalent to a theoretical case in which 

50 percent of the value of 300 leases are acquired at an average 

price of $2.5 million—an amount that is more than double the $1 

million average price paid per lease in 2018. CBO expects that 

global energy companies would actively compete for leases in this 

region because of its strategic and resource potential. 

Spending subject to appropriation: CBO estimates that imple- menting H.R. 205 would reduce DOI’s administrative costs by $15 

million over the 2020–2024 period. That estimate is based on historical spending patterns for developing leasing plans and completing the environmental, geologic, and economic assessments that 

are required under current law for potential auctions of leases in 

the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Any reduction in spending would depend on future appropriations being reduced by the estimated 

amounts. 

Uncertainty: The amount the government might collect under 

current law for leases in areas in the Gulf of Mexico subject to the 

GOMESA moratorium is uncertain and could be higher or lower 

than CBO estimates. The timing of any auctions will depend on future administrative actions that cannot be predicted. In addition, 

potential bidders could rely on assumptions that differ from CBO’s, 

including projections of the long-term prices for oil and gas, production costs, the area’s resource potential, and alternative investment 

opportunities. The factors that affect companies’ investment decisions could result in a wide range of possible bonus bids. 

Pay-As-You-Go considerations: The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 

of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures 

for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net 


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16 

changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 2. 

TABLE 2.—CBO’S ESTIMATE OF PAY-AS-YOU-GO EFFECTS OF H.R. 205 

By fiscal year, millions of dollars— 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2019– 

2024 

2019– 

2029 

Net Increase in the Deficit 

Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effect ...... 0 0 0 0 50 50 60 60 60 60 60 100 400 

Increase in long-term deficits: CBO cannot determine whether 

enacting the bill would increase net direct spending by more than 

$5 billion in any of the four consecutive periods beginning in 2030. 

H.R. 205 would preclude the development of some oil and gas resources that otherwise may occur in the Gulf of Mexico under current law. The potential loss of offsetting receipts after 2029 would 

depend on several factors, including future prices for oil and gas 

and the timing, quantity of any production, and future administrative actions. For example, the cost of implementing the bill may not 

exceed $5 billion in any of those periods if prices are similar to 

those assumed in CBO’s May 2019 baseline projections of $74 per 

barrel in 2029. On the other hand, costs could exceed $5 billion in 

some periods if prices or production exceed those projected 

amounts. 

Mandates: None. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Kathleen Gramp; Mandates: Rachel Austin. 

Estimate reviewed by: Kim Cawley, Chief, Natural Resources 

Cost Estimates Unit; H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis; Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and objectives of this bill is to amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security 

Act of 2006 to permanently extend the moratorium on leasing in 

certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

EXISTING PROGRAMS

This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 


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17 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or tribal law 

is intended to be consistent with the bill’s purposes and text and 

the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

GULF OF MEXICO ENERGY SECURITY ACT OF 2006 

* * * * * * * 

DIVISION C—OTHER PROVISIONS 

TITLE I—GULF OF MEXICO ENERGY 

SECURITY 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 104. MORATORIUM ON OIL AND GAS LEASING IN CERTAIN AREAS 

OF GULF OF MEXICO. 

(a) IN GENERAL.— øEffective during the period beginning on the 

date of enactment of this Act and ending on June 30, 2022, the Secretary¿ The Secretary shall not offer for leasing, preleasing, or any 

related activity— 

(1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of 

Mexico; 

(2) any area in the Eastern Planning Area that is within 125 

miles of the coastline of the State of Florida; or 

(3) any area in the Central Planning Area that is— 

(A) within— 

(i) the 181 Area; and 

(ii) 100 miles of the coastline of the State of Florida; 

or 

(B)(i) outside the 181 Area; 

(ii) east of the western edge of the Pensacola Official 

Protraction Diagram (UTM X coordinate 1,393,920 (NAD 

27 feet)); and 

(iii) within 100 miles of the coastline of the State of Florida. 

(b) MILITARY MISSION LINE.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the 

United States reserves the right to designate by and through the 

Secretary of Defense, with the approval of the President, national 

defense areas on the outer Continental Shelf pursuant to section 

12(d) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341(d)). 

(c) EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN LEASES.— 


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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall permit any person 

that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, has entered into 

an oil or gas lease with the Secretary in any area described in 

paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a) to exchange the lease for 

a bonus or royalty credit that may only be used in the Gulf of 

Mexico. 

(2) VALUATION OF EXISTING LEASE.—The amount of the bonus 

or royalty credit for a lease to be exchanged shall be equal to— 

(A) the amount of the bonus bid; and 

(B) any rental paid for the lease as of the date the lessee 

notifies the Secretary of the decision to exchange the lease. 

(3) REVENUE DISTRIBUTION.—No bonus or royalty credit may 

be used under this subsection in lieu of any payment due 

under, or to acquire any interest in, a lease subject to the revenue distribution provisions of section 8(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(g)). 

(4) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations that shall provide a process for— 

(A) notification to the Secretary of a decision to exchange 

an eligible lease; 

(B) issuance of bonus or royalty credits in exchange for 

relinquishment of the existing lease; 

(C) transfer of the bonus or royalty credit to any other 

person; and 

(D) determining the proper allocation of bonus or royalty 

credits to each lease interest owner. 

* * * * * * * 


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[1] Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Gulf of Mexico Energy Security (GOMESA). https:// 

www.boem.gov/Revenue-Sharing/. [2] Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) 

Areas. https://www.boem.gov/GOMESA-Map/. [3]Memorandum Agreement Between the Department of Defense and the Department of the 

Interior on Mutual Concerns on the Outer Continental Shelf. July 20, 1983. 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

We are opposed to H.R. 205 as ordered reported from the Committee on Natural Resources. This legislation would permanently 

extend the moratorium on energy production in the Eastern Gulf 

of Mexico planning area set to expire in 2022. 

Enacted in 2006, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GO 

MESA, Public Law 109–432) established a revenue sharing structure for oil and gas lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama [1] and 

imposed a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Eastern Gulf 

of Mexico planning area.[2] Under GOMESA, offshore leasing is 

banned off the east coast of Florida through June 2022, at which 

time the moratorium will expire. 

Our colleagues who support this bill allege that oil and gas development cannot occur alongside commercial fishing, tourism, recreation or military testing and training operations. However, the 

Gulf States have proven that all of these activities can coexist, and 

in fact, benefit from one another, so long as we follow the process 

established in the law for stakeholder engagement and environmental review. The coast of Louisiana, where the lion’s share of offshore drilling occurs, boasts one of the most diverse and productive 

ecosystems in the world, supporting marine and wildlife habitat 

and the largest commercial fishing industry in the contiguous 

United States. 

Further, 36% of current oil and gas leases have stipulations to 

accommodate nearby military testing and training operations— 

demonstrating the compatibility of Department of Defense (DoD) 

operations and energy development on the OCS. In 1983, the Department of the Interior (DoI) and DoD signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) that allows for cooperation in the event that 

military and planned energy leasing activities on the OCS are in 

conflict.[3] The MOU establishes that certain defense-related activities may be irreconcilable with mineral exploration but, in some 

areas, energy production is possible so long as leasing and production stipulations are included to allow for military activity in the 

region. 

Under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

2018, DoD prepared a report discussing the scope of military testing and training events conducted east of the Military Mission Line 

(MML) offshore Florida and Alabama in the Eastern Gulf of MexVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:04 Jul 23, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6604 E:\HR\OC\HR156.XXX HR156

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[4]Preserving Military Readiness in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Office of the Secretary of Defense. May 2018. [5]Preserving Military Readiness in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Office of the Secretary of Defense. May 2018. [6]http://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/Final-GOMESA.pdf. 

ico.[4] Throughout this report, DoD reiterates, ‘‘If oil and gas development were to extend east over the MML, without sufficient surface limiting stipulations and/or oil and gas activity restrictions 

mutually agreed upon by the DoD and DoI, military flexibility in 

the region would be lost and test and training activities would be 

severely affected’’ [emphasis added.[5] This conditional statement 

conveys that, with DoI and industry cooperation, multiple uses of 

the Eastern Gulf of Mexico are possible, including energy development. 

Furthermore, offshore oil and gas production is a significant 

source of federal and State revenues. In fact, offshore oil and gas 

development alone contributed over $3 billion to the U.S. Treasury 

and over $200 million to the Gulf States in Fiscal Year 2018. The 

Gulf producing States of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana receive a very small portion of the revenues generated from 

production on the OCS. These States, specifically Louisiana, rely on 

these revenues to design and complete critical hurricane protection 

and flood prevention projects [6]. However, recent payments have 

fallen well below projected levels, forcing Louisiana coastal managers to delay or cancel restoration projects. Notably, oil and gas 

production on the OCS is the funding source for the Land and 

Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which the Congress, including 

proponents of this bill, recently voted to permanently authorize. It 

must also be noted that a Democrat-sponsored bill to create permanent mandatory funding of the LWCF was ironically considered, 

and passed, during the same markup that H.R. 205 was considered. 

There is a clearly established process in law for States to weigh 

in on where we should conduct offshore energy development. This 

bill would bypass that process altogether by permanently banning 

production without consideration of the benefits this activity could 

provide in terms of domestic energy security. H.R. 205 is a regressive piece of legislation which does not account for the growing 

global demand for energy and military needs. We should be considering, through the 5-year planning process under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the best use of each area of the Gulf—with 

due consideration given to the needs of the military, tourism activities, and the hydrocarbon potential of these resources that are 

owned by the American public. 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with REPORTS
21 

This bill would take domestic energy resources off the table, increasing our dependence on foreign oil imports from unfriendly 

sources whose environmental standards are significantly less stringent than ours. Further, this proposal would preclude job creation 

and the generation of billions of dollars in revenue for the U.S. 

Treasury, States, and critical conservation investments. For these 

reasons, we oppose H.R. 205 as ordered reported. 

RUSS FULCHER. 

TOM MCCLINTOCK. 

DOUG LAMBORN. 

PAUL A. GOSAR. 

LIZ CHENEY. 

MIKE JOHNSON (LA). 

GARRET GRAVES (LA). 

ROB BISHOP (UT). 

Æ 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with REPORTS