Cruz Leads Fight to Hold Offshore Lease Sales in the Gulf of Mexico

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), introduced the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023 requiring the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold two offshore oil and gas lease sales in 2024 and 2025. Despite a legal obligation to maintain an offshore leasing program, the Biden administration has delayed the finalization of the 5-Year Plan for offshore oil and gas and has publicly acknowledged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will not start any sale-specific environmental review until the new 5-Year Plan is finalized in December 2023.

Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “I am continuing the fight for more jobs for Texas, greater economic security, and to combat the rising costs of energy caused by the Biden administration. The Offshore Energy Security Act does that, and I’m proud to stand with Sen. Cassidy in restoring sanity and predictability for energy production in the U.S. and especially across the Lone Star State.”

Read the bill here.

Background

In addition to mandating these sales, the bill also defines acreage, stipulates lease terms and conditions, defines which previously finalized environmental reviews will apply to the sales, and ensures that both issued leases and drilling permit applications are not either invalidated, remanded, or delayed as a result of civil litigation.

The legislation is supported by the National Ocean Industries Association, American Petroleum Institute, Gulf Energy Alliance, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association (LMOGA), and Consumer Energy Alliance.

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