H.R. 291 – Coastal Economies Protection Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:04 AM UTC

The Coastal Economies Protection Act would change the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to stop any new oil or natural‑gas leasing, pre‑leasing, or related actions on the offshore shelf in five U.S. regions for ten years, ending on June 30 2029. The goal is to protect coastal economies and environments by pausing future offshore development, while leaving any leases that were already issued before the law in place.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subsection that creates a moratorium on offering leases, pre‑leases, or related activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid‑Atlantic, South Atlantic, Straits of Florida, and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico planning areas.
The moratorium starts when the law is enacted and runs until June 30 2029.
Specifies that the moratorium does not affect rights under any lease that was issued before the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

February 5, 2019

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

January 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H372)

January 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

February 5, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 291 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Joe CunninghamD-SC-1 · Jan 10, 2019

Madam Speaker, today, I would like to call attention to an issue that gravely impacts the lives of South Carolinians and folks up and down the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts: offshore drilling. Most…

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued January 8, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 291

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 8, 2019

Mr. Cunningham (for himself and Mr. Rooney of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to place a ten-year moratorium on oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas and in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Coastal Economies Protection Act.

2.

Moratorium on oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the outer continental shelf

Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(i)

Moratorium on oil and natural gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the outer continental shelf

(1)

Moratorium

Effective during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection and ending on June 30, 2029, the Secretary shall not offer for leasing, preleasing, or any related activity on the following geographic areas of the outer Continental Shelf:

(A)

The North Atlantic planning area.

(B)

The Mid-Atlantic planning area.

(C)

The South Atlantic planning area.

(D)

The Straits of Florida Planning Area.

(E)

The area of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico described in section 104(a) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (title I of division C of Public Law 109–432; 43 U.S.C. 1331 note).

(2)

Limitation on effect

Nothing in this subsection affects any right under any lease issued under this Act before the date of the enactment of this subsection.

.