US House members introduce federal energy policy reform legislation

US House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) introduced legislation on Nov. 3 that would reform federal onshore and offshore energy resource management policies substantially. Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and two Texas Democrats, Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vincent Gonzalez, were cosponsors.

H.R. 4239 contains several provisions similar to a discussion draft that the Natural Resources Committee’s Energy and Minerals Subcommittee is scheduled to examine in a Nov. 7 hearing.

But the bill goes further in some respects, such as directing that 6.25% of qualifying US Outer Continental Shelf revenue go to the National Park Service and to energy infrastructure projects in coastal ports. It also aims to extend offshore energy development opportunities to US territories by applying the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act there.

The full committee is scheduled to begin marking up that bill and eight others later that afternoon after the subcommittee’s hearing concludes. The markups are set to continue on Nov. 8.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].