Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on six bills supporting offshore energy production, improving timelines for mineral production in Montana and reauthorizing programs for earthquake, landslide and volcano preparedness. Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) issued the following statement in response:

"The Biden Administration waged an outright war on American energy and mineral production, ignoring the livelihoods and energy needs of American families. Today, the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee considered legislation that will correct these wrongs by nullifying previous offshore energy withdrawals and limiting the size and duration of future withdrawals, as well as legislation that allows for responsible coal production in Montana, and legislation that modernizes the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s resource assessment process that gives us a better understanding of our nation’s vast natural resource potential. I’m also glad we considered bipartisan legislation to facilitate early warnings for natural hazards, helping to save lives and reduce costs incurred by the federal government. Great progress was made today in our mission to secure American energy and mineral dominance and promote responsible stewardship of our natural resources."

Background

H.R. 513, the Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), will nullify specific egregious withdrawals of offshore lands made under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The bill would amend OCSLA to put common-sense guardrails on future presidential withdrawals. It also mandates geological, economic, and security assessments before announcing a withdrawal, requires withdrawals to be submitted for congressional review with an expedited disapproval process, and ensures alignment with approved Five-Year Oil and Gas Leasing Programs, enhancing energy security and oversight.

H.R. 931, introduced by U.S. Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), requires the Secretary of the Interior to approve the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, allowing the mine and its 300 workers to continue operations. This mine plays a crucial role in the economy of Musselshell County by creating hundreds of jobs, generating more than $90 million annually in state, local and federal taxes and providing vital energy resources for the United States economy.

H.R. 2256, the Comprehensive Offshore Resource Enhancement Act of 2025 (CORE) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), will address the critical need for enhanced assessment of domestic and transboundary oil and gas reservoirs by requiring the Bureau of Offshore Energy Management to better leverage existing seismic data, resolve international boundary disputes, examine unresolved international boundaries and assess joint production feasibility. This bill will increase domestic oil production, bringing greater energy security, more affordable energy prices, a lower national trade deficit and increased revenue passed onto states for coastal restoration and infrastructure projects.

H.R. 3168, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), reauthorizes the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through fiscal year 2030. The NEHRP monitors and reports seismic activity data to reduce earthquake risks in the United States.

H.R. 3176, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), will reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System (NVEWS) through fiscal year 2030. NVEWS aims to monitor the most active and hazardous volcanoes to give ample time to evacuate communities in surrounding areas.

H.R. 2250, the National Landslides Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), reauthorizes the National Landslides Preparedness Act (NLPA) at $35 million until fiscal year 2030. The NLPA allows USGS to gather data that enables states and communities to reduce loss in the event of a landslide.

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