Sponsors (17)
The bill prevents new Arctic offshore oil and gas development—protecting Arctic residents, ecosystems, and reducing federal response costs—while reducing industry jobs, potential local and federal revenues, and possibly increasing reliance on other energy sources and consumer energy costs.
Residents of Arctic communities and the surrounding ecosystems will face fewer oil and gas development risks because the bill blocks new Arctic offshore drilling, protecting subsistence resources, marine life, and reducing long‑term greenhouse gas emissions.
Federal agencies and their employees will have lower regulatory and emergency‑response burdens and costs because preventing new Arctic development reduces the likelihood of drilling incidents that require government oversight and cleanup.
U.S. energy companies and workers in the offshore oil and gas sector will lose access to potential Arctic resources, reducing investment, jobs, and economic activity tied to Arctic development.
Consumers and taxpayers nationwide could face higher energy costs or greater reliance on other (possibly foreign) energy sources over time because limiting Arctic production reduces one potential domestic supply source.
States, localities, and stakeholders expecting future lease revenues or royalties from Arctic offshore leasing will lose potential income and associated economic benefits.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits the Interior Secretary from issuing or extending any lease or authorization for oil, gas, or other minerals on Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf.
Official title: To prohibit drilling in the Arctic Ocean.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Jared Huffman · Last progress April 10, 2025
Prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing or extending any lease or other authorization to explore, develop, or produce oil, natural gas, or any other mineral on Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf, and defines “Arctic” by reference to federal law. The bill is short and narrowly focused: it adds a new subsection to the Outer Continental Shelf leasing law that creates a statutory ban on new or renewed mineral leasing activity in the Arctic OCS.