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Congress·Enacted·12 months ago

Ocean Energy: Blocking New Rules for Protecting Underwater Artifacts

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ Senate
✓ House

221–202

✓ President

Key Points

  • Congress passed a resolution to cancel a new rule from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The original rule was meant to improve how the government protects shipwrecks and other historical sites on the ocean floor during energy projects.
  • This decision affects companies that build offshore wind farms or drill for oil and gas. These companies will no longer have to follow the specific new requirements for finding and preserving artifacts during their construction projects.
  • This move was made using a special power that allows Congress to overrule agency decisions. Because this rule was blocked this way, the agency is now banned from creating any similar rule in the future unless Congress passes a new law allowing it.
  • People who support this move say the new rules were too complicated and would have made energy projects more expensive and slower to finish. They believe the older, existing protections are already enough to keep history safe.
  • Those who wanted the rule kept say it was necessary to protect important pieces of history, like ancient tribal sites or historic ships, from being accidentally destroyed by heavy machinery on the sea floor.

Milestones

9 milestones22 actions
Mar 14, 2025

Became Public Law No: 119-3.

Mar 14, 2025

Signed by President.

Mar 10, 2025House

Presented to President.

Mar 6, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 6, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 202, 1 Present (Roll no. 61). (text: CR H1014-1015)

Vote Results

3 votes
HousePassedPassageMar 6, 2025

On Passage

221
202
Democrat
9 – 201 · 4
Republican
212 – 1 · 5
View full roll call
SenatePassedProceduralFeb 25, 2025

On the Motion to Proceed

54
42
Democrat
3 – 40 · 2
Republican
51 – 0 · 2
Independent
0 – 2
View full roll call
SenatePassedFeb 25, 2025

On the Joint Resolution

54
44
Democrat
3 – 42
Republican
51 – 0 · 2
Independent
0 – 2
View full roll call

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources".

Bill NumberSJRES 11
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionBecame Public Law No: 119-3.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
R: 2

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.