Tuberville and Britt push to hold Offshore Lease Sales in the Gulf

January 16, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) in introducing the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025. The legislation requires the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to hold two offshore oil and gas lease sales per year for 10 years-resulting in 20 total lease sales.

The Biden administration had tried to end oil and gas leasing; but were blocked by Congress and the courts. As it was Biden's anti-energy policies limited oil and gas leases harming the economies of Gulf of Mexico states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

"For the last four years, the Biden administration has waged war on American energy," Sen. Tuberville said. "This intentional attack has depleted our domestic energy supply and made us dependent on foreign adversaries. Offshore energy development in the Gulf of Mexico is essential to our nation's all-of-the-above energy strategy, offering immense economic, national security, and environmental advantages. We need to fully tap into our abundant energy resources, including in the Gulf. I'm proud to join Senator Cassidy in this effort, and will continue working with the Trump administration to restore America's energy independence."

U.S. Senators Tuberville, Britt, and Cassidy were joined by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) in cosponsoring the legislation.

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

The current five-year plan for offshore oil and gas drafted under the Biden-Harris administration only suggests three lease sales over five years. Given that 2024 was the first year without an offshore lease sale in more than 50 years, Sens. Britt and Tuberville believe that it is important to provide long-term leasing certainty that companies can rely on.

In addition to mandating 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 bill also codifies President Trump's 2020 memorandum to withdraw the Eastern Gulf of Mexico from leasing for the duration of the legislation.

The Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025 would mandate two offshore oil and gas lease sales per year for 10 years. It also provides certainty to offshore energy producers to continue investing in the United States; and codifies President Trump's 2020 memorandum on leasing in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.

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