I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3710 
To direct the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to initiate 
immediate action to create jobs in America, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 16, 2011 
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Commit-
tees on Science, Space, and Technology and Transportation and Infra-
structure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, to initiate immediate action 
to create jobs in America, and for other 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Deficit Reduction, Job Creation, and Energy Security 
Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Purposes. 
Sec. 4. Definitions. 
TITLE I—DEFICIT REDUCTION ENERGY SECURITY 
Sec. 101. Deficit Reduction Acreage. 
Sec. 102. Deficit Reduction Energy Security Fund and Coastal and Ocean Sus-
tainability and Health Fund. 
Sec. 103. Coastal and Ocean Disaster Grant Program. 
Sec. 104. National Grant Program for Coastal and Ocean Sustainability and 
Health. 
Sec. 105. Eligible uses of grants. 
Sec. 106. Grant application. 
TITLE II—TIMELY ISSUANCE OF OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS 
LEASES 
Sec. 201. Reinstatement of offshore oil and gas leases. 
Sec. 202. Effective and efficient environmental review. 
TITLE III—OFFICE OF ENERGY EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING 
AND OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN INCLUSION 
Sec. 301. Establishment of Office of Energy Employment and Training. 
Sec. 302. Office of Minority and Women Inclusion. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 401. Reporting. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds and declares the following: 
(1) The Nation is currently experiencing a na-
tional employment emergency, and urgent action is 
needed to put Americans back to work in well-paid, 
long-term jobs. 
(2) The Federal Government distributed over 
$10,000,000,000 to Federal, State, and Indian ac-
counts from energy production during fiscal year 
2009, primarily from oil and natural gas production. 
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(3) The domestic oil and natural gas industry 
is responsible for approximately 9.2 million jobs. 
(4) The approximately 43 million leased Outer 
Continental Shelf acres currently account for about 
15 percent of America’s domestic natural gas pro-
duction and about 27 percent of America’s domestic 
oil production. 
(5) The leasing of these domestic offshore areas 
for oil and natural gas development provides signifi-
cant economic benefits to the Federal Government, 
as well as to States and localities, through the cre-
ation and sustenance of jobs and domestic product. 
(6) The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management currently has authorities 
under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) and related laws that can be 
effectively utilized to create jobs and revitalize the 
Nation’s economy. 
(7) Effective and expedited development of Gulf 
of Mexico oil and natural gas resources could gen-
erate thousands of new jobs, many of which could be 
created almost immediately. 
(8) The coastal regions of the United States 
have high productivity and contribute approximately 
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50 percent of the gross domestic product of the 
United States. 
(9) The economies and social structure of many 
communities are dependent on resources from ocean, 
coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. 
(10) Supporting science, research, monitoring, 
modeling, forecasting, exploration, and assessment 
will continue to improve our understanding of the 
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems as well 
as their long-term economic sustainability. 
(11) Safeguarding these ecosystems is crucial to 
protecting the environment and waters of the United 
States. 
(12) The growth of our energy domestic re-
sources is vital to America’s national security. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are the following: 
(1) Require the Secretary of the Interior to uti-
lize its authorities regarding the leasing and develop-
ment of offshore oil and gas resources to accelerate 
job creation and economic revitalization to the fullest 
extent practicable, taking into account the Depart-
ment of the Interior’s responsibilities regarding con-
servation, safety, and protection of the environment. 
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(2) Promote expansion of domestic employment 
opportunities. 
(3) Respond to the Nation’s increased need for 
domestic oil and natural gas resources. 
(4) Support the utilization of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf for oil and gas production and trans-
mission. 
(5) Protect, conserve, restore, and understand 
the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes of the United 
States, ensuring present and future generations will 
benefit from the full range of ecological, economic, 
educational, social, cultural, nutritional, and rec-
reational opportunities and services those resources 
are capable of providing. 
(6) Confirm and ensure the validity of appro-
priate oil and gas leases issued under the Final 
Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Pro-
gram, 2007–2012. 
(7) Ensure the continued leasing of Outer Con-
tinental Shelf areas pursuant to the Final Outer 
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 
2007–2012. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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