Title: PROTECT Florida Act
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Preserving Recreation, Oceans, Tourism, Environment, and Coastal Towns in Florida Act or the PROTECT Florida Act
This bill extends the moratorium until June 30, 2029, on oil and gas exploration, preleasing or leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to establish a moratorium until June 30, 2029, on oil and gas exploration, preleasing or leasing in the (1)	Straits of Florida Planning Area, and (2) the area in the South Atlantic Planning Area that is south of the northernmost lateral seaward administrative boundary of Florida.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5014 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5014

 To provide for a moratorium on oil and gas leasing and exploration on 
 the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida until 2029, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2018

Mr. Rutherford (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. DeSantis, 
 Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Mast, Mr. Francis Rooney of Florida, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, 
   Mr. Ross, and Mr. Yoho) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for a moratorium on oil and gas leasing and exploration on 
 the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida until 2029, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Preserving Recreation, Oceans, 
Tourism, Environment, and Coastal Towns in Florida Act'' or the 
``PROTECT Florida Act''.

SEC. 2. MORATORIUM ON OIL AND GAS LEASING AND EXPLORATION ON THE OUTER 
              CONTINENTAL SHELF OFF COAST OF FLORIDA.

    (a) Extension of Gulf Coast Moratorium.--Section 104(a) of the Gulf 
of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``2022'' and inserting ``2029''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, and may not issue a permit for oil and 
        gas exploration (as such term is defined in section 2 of the 
        Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act) in'' after ``related 
        activity''.
    (b) Establishment of Atlantic Coast Moratorium.--Section 12 of the 
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1431) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(g) Moratorium on Oil and Gas Leasing Off Coast of Florida.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may not offer for oil and 
        gas leasing, preleasing, or any related activity, and may not 
        issue a permit for oil and gas exploration in--
                    ``(A) any area in the Straits of Florida Planning 
                Area; and
                    ``(B) any area in the South Atlantic Planning Area 
                that is south of the northernmost lateral seaward 
                administrative boundary of the State of Florida.
            ``(2) Application.--This subsection shall apply during the 
        period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
        ending on June 30, 2029.''.
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