SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to permit United States 
companies to participate in the exploration for and the ex-
traction of hydrocarbon resources from any portion of a 
foreign maritime exclusive economic zone that is contig-
uous to the exclusive economic zone of the United States. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIVITIES AND EXPORTS IN-
VOLVING 
HYDROCARBON 
RESOURCES 
BY 
UNITED STATES COMPANIES. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law (including a regulation), United States 
persons (including agents and affiliates of such persons) 
may— 
(1) engage in any transaction necessary for the 
exploration for and extraction of hydrocarbon re-
sources from any portion of any foreign exclusive 
economic zone that is contiguous to the exclusive 
economic zone of the United States, or for oil spill 
prevention and clean-up activities in such a portion 
of any foreign exclusive economic zone; 
(2) export without license authority all equip-
ment necessary for the exploration for or extraction 
of hydrocarbon resources, or oil spill prevention and 
clean-up activities, described in paragraph (1); and 
(3) import into the United States hydrocarbon 
resources described in paragraph (1) (including 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Mar 05, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4135.IH
H4135
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
products thereof) extracted under the authority of 
this section. 
(b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘United 
States person’’ means— 
(1) any United States citizen or alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence in the United 
States; and 
(2) any person other than an individual, if an 
individual described in paragraph (1) owns or con-
trols at least 51 percent of the securities or other 
equity interest in such person. 
SEC. 4. TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH AUTHORIZED HY-
DROCARBON EXPLORATION AND EXTRAC-
TION ACTIVITIES. 
Section 910 of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Ex-
port Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7209) is 
amended by adding at the end the following the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(c) GENERAL LICENSE AUTHORITY FOR TRAVEL- 
RELATED EXPENDITURES
BY PERSONS ENGAGING
IN 
HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION AND EXTRACTION ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury shall authorize under a general license the 
travel-related 
transactions 
listed 
in 
section 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Mar 05, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4135.IH
H4135
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
515.560(c) of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, 
for travel to, from, or within Cuba in connection 
with— 
‘‘(A) exploration for, and the extraction of, 
hydrocarbon resources in any part of a foreign 
maritime exclusive economic zone that is contig-
uous to the United States exclusive economic 
zone; or 
‘‘(B) oil spill prevention and clean-up ac-
tivities in such a part of a foreign maritime ex-
clusive economic zone. 
‘‘(2) PERSONS AUTHORIZED.—Persons author-
ized to travel to Cuba under this section include— 
‘‘(A) 
full-time 
employees, 
executives, 
agents, and consultants of oil and gas pro-
ducers, distributors, and shippers; and 
‘‘(B) persons who engage in oil spill pre-
vention and clean-up activities.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Mar 05, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4135.IH
H4135
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS