I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2556 
To enhance national security and energy independence through comprehensive 
offshore energy resource assessment and mapping, to establish a frame-
work for the regular review and standardization of offshore resource 
exploration methodologies, and for related purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 1, 2025 
Mr. HUNT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and 
Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To enhance national security and energy independence 
through comprehensive offshore energy resource assess-
ment and mapping, to establish a framework for the 
regular review and standardization of offshore resource 
exploration methodologies, and for related purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comprehensive Off-
shore Resource Enhancement Act of 2025’’ or the ‘‘CORE 
Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF OFFSHORE ENERGY RESOURCES 
AND RESERVES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EXPLORATION; DEVELOPMENT, PRODUC-
TION.—The terms ‘‘exploration’’, ‘‘development’’, 
and ‘‘production’’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331). 
(2) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the 
Interior, and the Secretary of State. 
(b) REPORT
ON TRANSBOUNDARY HYDROCARBON 
RESERVOIRS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secre-
taries shall jointly submit to the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources, and the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report that 
includes the following: 
(A) An identification and assessment of 
any existing transboundary hydrocarbon res-
ervoirs, including those covered by bilateral 
maritime boundary treaties and agreements, 
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and any potential transboundary areas for fu-
ture exploration, development, and production 
of hydrocarbons. 
(B) An analysis of the legal frameworks 
established by relevant maritime boundary trea-
ties and agreements, including provisions re-
lated to the equitable exploration, development, 
and production of transboundary hydrocarbon 
reservoirs and mechanisms for resolving dis-
putes, and their adoption by counterparty na-
tions. 
(C) An evaluation of the potential eco-
nomic, environmental, and geopolitical implica-
tions of transboundary hydrocarbon exploration, 
development, and production, including impacts 
on domestic energy security, greenhouse gas 
emissions, and international relations. 
(D) Recommendations for enhancing co-
operation and coordination among the United 
States and neighboring countries in the explo-
ration, development, and production of trans-
boundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, including 
mechanisms for information sharing, joint ex-
ploration, development, and production, and 
dispute resolution. 
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(E) Data and insights derived from recent 
collaborative efforts between the United States 
and Canada, such as seismic data collection, 
and an analysis of how such efforts can inform 
the delineation of maritime boundaries. 
(F) An examination of unresolved mari-
time boundaries between the United States and 
Canada, particularly those involving potential 
transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, and an 
identification of potential legal and diplomatic 
avenues to resolve disputes over such bound-
aries, including the possibility of involving inter-
national judicial bodies such as the Inter-
national Court of Justice or a chamber con-
stituted by such Court pursuant to a special 
agreement between the parties. 
(G) A review of existing data on the poten-
tial for shared exploration, development, and 
production of transboundary hydrocarbon res-
ervoirs in disputed maritime zones between the 
United States and Canada, with recommenda-
tions for further studies or negotiations to ad-
dress uncertainties and maximize joint explo-
ration, development, and production opportuni-
ties. 
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(H) A comprehensive review of activities by 
neighboring countries, including Cuba, Mexico, 
Canada, the Bahamas, and Russia, regarding 
the exploration, development, seismic surveying, 
drilling, production, or any other activity re-
lated to transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, 
which such review shall include the status of 
any bilateral or multilateral agreements, an as-
sessment of foreign exploration, development, 
and production efforts within transboundary 
zones adjacent to United States maritime 
boundaries, and an analysis of the potential im-
plications of these activities for United States 
energy security, environmental impacts, and 
geopolitical considerations. 
(2) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—In preparing the 
report required to be submitted under paragraph 
(1), the Secretaries shall— 
(A) prioritize the acquisition and use of 
advanced 
geophysical, 
geological, 
and 
geotechnical data and methods; 
(B) acquire and apply new and emerging 
modeling and analytic technologies, including 
data analysis tools, quantum computing, artifi-
cial intelligence, modeling, and geographic in-
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formation systems, to approximate the quantity 
and establish a peer-reviewed range of resources 
in each regional planning area with a discussion 
of the upper and lower bound of the estimates 
with that discussion to include recommenda-
tions as to how to reduce the range of uncer-
tainty; and 
(C) in partnership with other relevant Fed-
eral agencies, including the National Science 
Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and the Office of Naval 
Research, utilize any existing maritime vessels 
or deployed capability, including any geo-
physical, geological, or related mapping tech-
nologies. 
(c) STANDARDIZATION
OF EXISTING REPORTS.— 
Section 357 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
15912) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, in consultation with 
other relevant Federal agencies and not less 
frequently than once every 5 years,’’ after ‘‘Sec-
retary shall’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of Mex-
ico and Canada’’; 
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(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (d); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) INCLUSIONS.—An inventory and analysis con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) An assessment of the approximate quan-
tity of undiscovered resources in the Atlantic region, 
the Pacific region off the coasts of California, Or-
egon, Washington, and Hawaii, the Alaska region, 
the Gulf of America region, and offshore of terri-
tories of the United States, which shall include the 
following: 
‘‘(A) A detailed analysis of how the future 
production of these undiscovered resources 
could influence the United States capacity to 
competitively produce, market, and export hy-
drocarbons on a global scale. Such detailed 
analysis shall consider key market variables 
such as global supply and demand dynamics, 
projected price points, geopolitical factors, and 
the role of United States production in main-
taining global energy security. 
‘‘(B) An economic analysis of how the de-
velopment and production of these undiscovered 
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resources would affect domestic employment 
across the supply chain. Such economic analysis 
shall include direct, indirect, and induced job 
impacts, emphasizing the potential for job cre-
ation in exploration, production, refining, logis-
tics, and associated industries. 
‘‘(2) An identification and assessment of how 
the unavailability for leasing of any lands that are 
withdrawn under section 12 of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341) or part of 
the National Marine Sanctuary System established 
by section 301(c) of the National Marine Sanc-
tuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431(c)) affects— 
‘‘(A) the exploration, development, and 
production of oil and gas; 
‘‘(B) national security, including the Na-
tion’s ability to supply the Armed Forces, its al-
lies, and trade partners with products derived 
from offshore oil or gas; 
‘‘(C) domestic jobs and employment; and 
‘‘(D) the amount of revenue States and 
coastal political subdivisions receive pursuant 
to— 
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‘‘(i) section 105 of the Gulf of Mexico 
Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 
1331 note); 
‘‘(ii) the Land and Water Conserva-
tion Fund (established under section 
200301 of title 54, United States Code); 
and 
‘‘(iii) division A of subtitle III of title 
54 (commonly referred to as the ‘National 
Historic Preservation Act’). 
‘‘(3) An assessment, including identification of 
locations, of non-energy mineral resources for com-
mercial or national security operations, including 
stone, sand, and gravel, and offshore critical min-
erals. 
‘‘(c) UPDATING MODELS.— 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary shall, in 
consultation with the National Petroleum Council, 
the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the United 
States Association for Energy Economics, periodi-
cally conduct an assessment of the costs, benefits, 
and accuracy of the models utilized by the Depart-
ment of the Interior to conduct an inventory and 
analysis under subsection (a). The first assessment 
under this paragraph shall be conducted not later 
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