Lawmakers introduce SECURE Act to promote domestic energy development

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently introduced legislation designed to promote domestic energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and onshore federal lands.

The Strengthening the Economy with Critical Untapped Resources to Expand (SECURE) American Energy Act aims to expand access to energy resources, provide regulatory certainty and reliability and streamline energy permitting processes.

“The SECURE American Energy Act opens up more areas for responsible energy exploration, creating good jobs in communities all across our country,” House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) said. “Our bill empowers states and optimizes onshore resource management by delegating certain permitting functions to state regulatory agencies instead of Washington. I’m proud to introduce this important bipartisan bill with my colleagues, and I look forward to passing it through the House and getting it on President Trump’s desk so he can sign it into law and we can create more jobs.”

Natural Resources Chair Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Vicente González (D-TX) joined Scalise in introducing the bill, H.R. 4239.

“The SECURE American Energy Act harnesses responsible development on America’s federal lands to create long-term energy strength and stability,” Bishop said. “Through cooperative federalism and commonsense regulatory practices we can fundamentally improve the way our federal lands and waters are managed for oil, gas and wind development. I thank Whip Scalise for his leadership and members on both sides of the aisle for their work and contributions to this bipartisan bill, and look forward to swiftly moving it through Committee and the House.”