April 10, 2025
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Collins, Ms. Hassan, Mr. King, Mr. Markey, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To prohibit oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of New England.
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 New England Coastal Protection Act
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Sec. 2. Prohibition of oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of New England
Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(q) Prohibition of oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the outer Continental Shelf
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, the Secretary may not issue a lease for the exploration for, or development or production of, oil or natural gas in any area of the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of the State of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut.